In the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic’s arrival in Canada, there’s a “new normal” when it comes to doing business and the list of most in-demand jobs reflects that shift.
“Globally, companies have pivoted to find a path forward,” states human resources giant Randstad Canada. “That’s led to a large-scale shift to remote work, increased use of digital collaboration tools, new and improved health and safety policies, and updated office and workplace layouts, among many other changes.”
The massive shift to remote work, widespread use of digital collaboration tools, new and improved health and safety policies, and updated office and workplace layouts have all led to a surge in demand for many jobs.
Here are the Top 15 Most In-Demand Jobs in Canada this year.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Ottawa is forecasting that there will be 7,000 more of these jobs created in the decade ending in 2028 than there will be people to fill these positions, leading a labour shortage.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 1241
Top job titles: Private Secretary, Technical Secretary, Office Administrative Assistant, Executive Secretary (Except Legal And Medical), Secretary (Except Legal And Medical).
Job Prospects: There were 1,849 jobs available for administrative assistants in Canada in late April.
Education: College one or two-year program for administrative assistants and previous clerical experience.
Salary Range: $29,250 – $63,745 per year.
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
Canada’s employment website, Job Bank, is projecting there will be demand for 60,400 customer service representatives during the decade ending in 2028.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 6552
Top job titles: Clerk for Customer Service, Accounts Information, Lost-And-Found, Tourist Information or Public Relations, Customer Service Representative – Call Centre, Bus Information Clerk, Courtesy Desk Clerk, Order Desk Agent, Enquiries Clerk, Contact Centre Agent – Customer Service.
Job Prospects: There were 1,922 jobs available for customer service representatives in Canada in late April.
Education: Secondary school diploma and previous clerical experience.
Salary Range: $25,350 – $56,550 per year.
SALES ASSOCIATE
The number of new sales associate jobs in Canada is forecast to far outstrip the available people to fill these positions, with a forecasted labour shortage of 9,400 jobs during the decade ending in 2028.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 6421
Top job titles: Car Rental Agent, Retail Sales Clerk, Retail Sales Associate, Sales Consultant – Retirement Homes, Clothing Salesperson, Hardware Store Clerk, Automobile Salesperson.
Job Prospects: There were 3,806 jobs available for sales associates in Canada in late April.
Education: Secondary school diploma, in many cases a university degree or college diploma, and demonstrated sales ability and product knowledge.
Salary Range: $23,400 – $45,000 per year.
TRUCK DRIVER
With 119,900 new trucking jobs likely to be created and only 96,600 people in Canada to fill them, Ottawa is forecasting a surge in demand for truckers over the decade ending in 2028.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 7511
Top job titles: Transport Driver, Truck Driver, Tow Truck Driver, Moving Van Driver.
Job Prospects: There were 2,474 jobs available for truck drivers in Canada in late April.
Education: Completion of an accredited driving course and a Class 3 or 1 license and an air brake endorsement, possibly transportation of dangerous goods certification.
Salary Range: $29,737 – $65,617 per year.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND RECEIVABLES CLERK
Ottawa is forecasting that there will be 37,800 of these jobs created over the next eight years with job prospects in many Canadian provinces and territories.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 1431
Top job titles: Accounting Clerk, Audit Clerk, Billing Clerk, Invoice Clerk, Income Tax Return Preparer
Job Prospects: There were 452 jobs available for accounts payable and receivables clerks in Canada in late April.
Education: Completion of college or other courses certified by the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, Canadian Securities Institute or Canadian Bookkeepers Association.
Salary Range: $29,991 – $60,937 per year.
REGISTERED NURSE
Every province and territory in Canada is screaming for more nurses and the labour shortage is expected to only get more acute with 36,500 more jobs opening up than nurses to fill them over the next eight years.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 3012
Top job titles: ER Nurse, Public Health Nurse, Nursing Consultant, Registered Psychiatric Nurse (R.P.N.), Registered Nurse (R.N.), Private Duty Nurse
Job Prospects: There were 884 jobs available for registered nurses in Canada in late April.
Education: University, college or other approved registered nursing program, additional academic training or experience to specialize in a specific area of nursing, and registration with a regulatory body in all provinces and territories.
Salary Range: $46,878 – $93,600 per year.
PROJECT MANAGER
Ottawa is forecasting that there will be 91,800 jobs for non-technical project managers created during the decade ending in 2028.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 1221
Top job titles: Office Manager or Administrator, Access To Information And Privacy Officer, Co-Ordinator, Office Services.
Job Prospects: There were 1,573 jobs available for non-technical project managers in Canada in late April.
Education: University or college education with extensive experience in office administration.
Salary Range: $33,150 – $75,406 per year.
GENERAL LABOURER
Randstad Canada reports that general labourers are in demand all across Canada for jobs in manufacturing, logistics, construction, assembly line work and packaging.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 9619
Top job titles: Seed Packager, Sorter – Recyclable Materials, Carton Marker, Bindery Helper, Box Packer, Chair Sander, Garment Folder.
Job Prospects: There were 1,078 jobs available for general labourers in Canada in late April.
Education: Some secondary school education may be required.
Salary Range: $25,350 – $44,323 per year.
WELDER
The current labour shortage for welders is expected to last straight through to the end of the decade closing in 2028.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 7237
Top job titles: Journeyman/Woman Welder, Welder Apprentice, Brazing Machine Operator, Soldering Machine Operator
Job Prospects: There were 876 jobs available for welders in Canada in late April.
Education: A three-year apprenticeship program, industry courses, trade certification and Red Seal endorsement.
Salary Range: $35,100 – $78,000 per year.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
The surge in online shopping and automation during the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled demand for electrical engineers whose prospects climb with increased use of computers and electronic and electrical products.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 2133
Top job titles: Avionics Engineer, Control Systems Engineer, Electrical Distribution Planning Engineer,
Electrical Engineer
Job Prospects: There were 172 jobs available for electrical engineers in Canada in late April.
Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in electrical engineering and licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers.
Salary Range: $51,129 – $130,708 per year.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Ottawa is forecasting that there will be 64,200 new jobs for software developers in Canada over the decade ending in 2028.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 2174
Top job titles: Web Programmer, Computer Programmer, Interactive Media Developer, E-Business Software Developer
Job Prospects: There were 677 jobs available software developers in Canada in late April.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Salary Range: $42,178 – $112,125 per year.
MERCHANDISER
Job Bank is forecasting there will be 12,500 jobs in merchandising created in the decade ending in 2028.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 6222
Top job titles: Assistant Buyer, Buyer – Retail, Clothing Buyer, Beverage Taster And Buyer, Food Buyer
Job Prospects: There were 610 jobs available for merchandisers in Canada in late April.
Education: University degree or college diploma in business, marketing or a related program with previous work experience in retail or wholesale establishments.
Salary Range: $29,250 – $67,275 per year.
ACCOUNTANT
Immigration is being seen as the key to resolving the shortage of financial auditors and accountants in Canada over the next eight years as 79,600 of these jobs are expected to be created.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 1111
Top job titles: Internal Auditor, Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA), Financial Auditor, Income Tax Expert.
Job Prospects: There were 378 jobs available for accountants and financial auditors in Canada in late April.
Education: University degree and professional training program approved by a provincial institute of chartered accountants and, depending on the province, either two years or 30 months of on-the-job training and membership in a provincial Institute of Chartered Accountants upon successful completion of the Uniform Evaluation (UFE).
Salary Range: $40,306 – $131,254 per year.
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
Ottawa is forecasting that there will be 15,000 of these jobs created during the decade ending in 2028.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 0112
Top job titles: Administrator Of Human Resources, Manager of Employment Equity and Human Resources, Personnel Manager.
Job Prospects: There were 194 jobs for human resources managers in Canada in late April.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in a field related to personnel management and completion of a professional development program in personnel administration as well as years of experience as a personnel officer.
Salary Range: $50,134 – $137,748 per year.
FINANCIAL ADVISOR/PLANNER
The forecasted number of positions opening up for financial advisors will outstrip the number of people available to fill them in Canada over the decade ending in 2028, creating a labour shortage.
National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 1114
Top job titles: Financial Underwriter, Estate And Trust Administrator, Mortgage Broker
Trust Officer, Account Manager, Credit Adjudicator.
Job Prospects: There were 347 available jobs for financial planners in Canada in late April.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, commerce, economics or a related field and a designation as a Personal Financial Planner awarded by the Financial Planners Standards Council of Canada as well as licensing by the appropriate body if selling regulated financial products and investments.
Salary Range: $39,838 – $107,815 per year.
