What Careers Are In Demand In Canada?

We constantly research this topic and given that it is a question you have probably asked as well, we thought we’d share with you a great article that answers the question very well (appeared on the Workopolis website earlier this year).

We’ve summarized the key points of the article below and pasted the entire article at the end of this email. Please note that although the careers listed below are expected to be the highest in demand in Canada, students should also consider: “which career will I enjoy and be good at?”. In our opinion, and based on our research, all our programs result in high demand careers – although some may be higher than others, it is important to note that if you enjoy your selected career, are trained well and are good at it – your chances of success will be very positive.

So, which careers are booming, and why?

The first wave of baby boomers is about to turn 65. This will lead to increases in the need for medical assistance – benefiting all healthcare workers over the next several years.

Many current healthcare workers will begin to retire, resulting in the creation of many healthcare-related job openings.

The primary careers expected to benefit from these trends are:

Dental Assistant

Dental assistants can perform many duties in support of a dentist. These can include polishing teeth, applying fluoride, preparing patients for dental examinations, preparing dental instruments and taking x-rays. Dental assistants require training in a college program and, in all provinces but Quebec, licensing is mandatory.

Pharmacy Assistant

Pharmacy assistants assist pharmacists by preparing, packaging and labeling pharmaceutical products. They also verify prescriptions, maintain patient records and monitor inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products. Pharmacy assistants require completion of secondary school and a college program.

Personal Support Worker / Nurse Aide

Nurse Aides attend to the needs of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities. They may be involved in answering call signals, serving meals, take patient’s blood pressure, collect fluid specimens, maintain an inventory of supplies and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning and sterilizing equipment. A Nurse Aide usually requires a college program with practical, on-the-job training.

FULL ARTICLE

Canada is on the cusp of a major change. The first wave of our country’s aging baby boomers is about to turn 65. With this milestone birthday comes retirement, of course, along with a host of challenges that will dramatically transform the country. Most significantly, mass retirement will have a striking impact on employment and health care in Canada.

As Canadians enter their golden years, they will be turning to the medical community to keep them healthy. In fact, over the next twenty-five years, the passage of about 10 million boomers into retirement will present both major challenges and opportunities for our country’s medical system. From dental work to x-rays to in-home support, these new Canadian seniors will be creating a significant demand for health care across the board.

In addition to the increased need for health care, as older workers retire, the mass retirement will create openings for advancement and entry into jobs previously held by boomers. In short, the swell in the senior population spells out security for workers in the health care industry and opportunities for students seeking a future with good prospects.

According to Jobfutures.ca, Canada’s National Career and Education planning tool, several occupations in the health care industry have been given the “Good Prospect” stamp of approval. By “Good”, the government of Canada is indicating that new entrants into that particular field have “a relatively easy time finding permanent employment in targeted occupations with relatively high pay or attractive labor market conditions.”

Of the forty or so occupations listed as “Good” prospects for 2009, over half are in the health care industry. As the country prepares for the upcoming 25 years of boomer retirement and its accompanying need for increased health care, this number can only be expected to rise-good news for current employees