Retiring Baby Boomers and economic growth in British Columbia will lead to the creation of almost a million jobs in that West Coast province by the year 2033, a labour market study reveals.
“Over the next decade (2023-2033), it is projected that there will be 998,000 job openings in British Columbia,” notes the latest British Columbia Labour Market Outlook.
“Annual job openings are expected to average 3.4 percent of employment over the 10-year period.”
Retirements are expected to free up 653,000 jobs while another 345,000 jobs are expected to be created due to economic growth with the number of employed workers hitting 3.1 million by 2033.
And immigration is being seen as a vital component of growing that workforce and boosting the British Columbia economy.
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“People immigrating to the province are a vital part of British Columbia. New British Columbians from across Canada and around the world bring innovation and fresh perspectives,” wrote then-Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Minister Selina Robinson in that report.
“They help to make cities, towns and regions vibrant and prosperous. Newcomers have valuable skills, fill essential jobs in our economy, and start new businesses—and all of this contributes to the prosperity and success of communities and the province.”
Included in that report is a list of in-demand occupations in British Columbia. Here are the Top 10 Most In-Demand Jobs In British Columbia.
1. Registered Nurses (NOC 31301)
British Columbia is, like all the provinces, facing a shortage of nurses as evidenced by the 6,148 job ads for nurses in that province on Indeed.ca, a job-hunting website, in early May.
Despite universities graduating nurses every year, this labour shortage is actually getting worse.
“For registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 155,400 , while 143,700 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” reports Job Bank, a job-hunting and career-planning website operated by the federal government.
These are the medical professionals who provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing.
This occupation comes with a median annual wage of $83,850 in British Columbia based on a 37.5-hour work week, according to Job Bank data.
2. Business Managers – Sales And Advertising (NOC 10022)
Business managers in sales, advertising and marketing are in great demand in British Columbia as companies attempt to innovate and deploy campaigns to drive up sales.
There were 979 job openings listed on Indeed for sales managers alone in British Columbia in early May with that demand only expected to grow over the next seven years.
“For advertising, marketing and public relations managers and other business services managers, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 23,200 , while 21,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
The median annual income for these business managers in British Columbia is $103,116 based on a 37.5-hour work week, data from Job Bank reveals.
3. Accountants (NOC 11100)
Accountants plan, organize and administer the accounting systems that keep track of that money for businesses, individuals and governments.
In early May, Indeed had 947 job listings for accountants in British Columbia where the median annual income for these professionals was $72,973 based on Job Bank data for a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
Demand for these financial professionals is growing.
“For financial auditors and accountants, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 88,000, while 79,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
4. Software Developers (NOC 21232)
As the people who write, modify, integrate and test computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating systems-level software and communications software, software developers are in hot demand.
“It’s no surprise that software developers are included in this list!” notes Randstad Canada.
“They are involved in designing, coding, and testing solutions. Their role is to understand the multiple needs of users. This technical approach is fundamental to creating reliable software that meets the diverse requirements of users, making software developers essential players in developing innovative technological solutions.”
In British Columbia, software developers earn a median annual wage of $89,875 based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week, Job Bank data reveals. The Indeed job website had 1,178such job listings in British Columbia in early May.
5. Physician (NOC 31102)
Labour shortages in the healthcare sector in British Columbia mean there’s also a huge demand for physicians, with Indeed showing 1,056 such positions in early May.
Job Bank is forecasting that labour shortage to be further exacerbated by 19,500 positions across Canada by the year 2031.
“For general practitioners and family physicians, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 48,900 , while 29,400 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” reports Job Bank.
In British Columbia, a family physician earns a median annual income of $178,810.
6. Administrative Assistants (NOC 13110)
With 2,632 jobs for administrative assistants up for grabs in British Columbia on the Indeed website in May and projected labour shortage growth of 11,000 of these office workers across Canada over the coming seven years, there is a lot of opportunity in this field.
“For administrative assistants, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 68,200, while 57,200 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” forecasts Job Bank.
Administrative assistants in British Columbia earn a median annual income of $48,886 based on a standard, 37.5-hour work week.
7. Welders and Machine Operators (NOC 72106)
British Columbia, like much of Canada, is facing a dearth of tradespeople, including welders.
“The Canadian welding industry is experiencing a shortage of welding professionals in several provinces and sectors due in significant part to an aging Canadian population, a lack of young people being attracted to the skilled trades and the reduced focus on skilled trades training in secondary and post-secondary institutions,” reports the CWB Group.
“If this shortage is not quickly addressed, it may inevitably lead to a crisis in the industry and its ability to be globally competitive in the future.”
Welders, who assemble metal components, guarantee the quality of structures, and collabourate with engineering teams on complex global projects, earn a media annual wage of $62,400 based on a 37.5-hour work week in British Columbia, Job Bank data reveals.
In early May, there were 465 jobs for welders advertised on the Indeed job-hunting website for British Columbia.
“Demand is growing for occupations in manual industries, such as electricians and welders,” notes Randstad Canada.
8. Carpenter (NOC 72310)
The people who construct, erect, install, maintain and repair structures and components of structures made of wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel and other materials are in hot demand by construction companies in British Columbia.
In early May, Indeed listed 1,676 jobs for carpenters, jobs that pay a median annual income of $58,500 based on a 37.5-hour work week. And demand for carpenters is growing across Canada.
“For carpenters, over the period 2022-2031, new job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 37,900 , while 32,800 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them,” notes Job Bank.
9. Cooks (NOC 63200)
Cooks are among the most in-demand workers in British Columbia with 4,333 job ads for them on the Indeed website in early May.
With a median annual income of $35,100 for a cook in British Columbia, it’s not the highest-paying work but there are jobs in the hospitality sector everywhere throughout the province.
10. Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321)
These professionals, who conduct studies, and develop and supervise programs to achieve the best use of equipment, human resources, technology, materials and procedures to enhance efficiency and productivity, are very much in demand in British Columbia.
The Indeed website listed 1,766 jobs for engineers of all kinds in British Columbia in early May.
“Due to the essential nature of their skills, demand for this type of position is steadily high,” notes Randstad Canada about mechanical engineers.
“Their versatility and ability to innovate in different industries means they are highly valued professionals in the job market.”
In British Columbia, industrial and manufacturing engineers make a median annual income of $92,859 based on a standard work week.
