Dear Working Wise:
I keep hearing about a looming shortage of workers in Alberta. I am just about to graduate from high school and want to know which careers will be in demand in the future. Signed, Eager for a career
Dear Eager:
Yes, Alberta is expected to have a shortage of approximately 114,000 workers within the decade according to Alberta’s 2011-2021 Occupational Demand and Supply Outlook,
But many of these occupations require specialized skills and training.
Finding out what careers will be in demand and what training you will need is a great idea. It doesn’t make sense to invest years and thousands of dollars into the wrong post-secondary program.
You might find the newly released Alberta Career and Industry Outlook, 2012 – 2015 helpful. The publication covers global trends that are affecting Alberta’s economy, the outlook for our major industries, and the projected demand for specific occupations.
The Outlook is available at http://alis.alberta.ca/pdf/cshop/careerindustry.pdf.
Growth in demand for occupations is expected to average 2.7 per cent per year. Each occupation listed in the Outlook is shown as having either above-average, average, or below-average growth.
The following occupations are projected to experience above-average growth:
· Administrative support clerks / regulatory occupations;
· Athletes, coaches, referees;
· Auditors, accountants, investment professionals;
· Carpenters / cabinetmakers;
· Chefs / cooks;
· Childcare and home support workers;
· College and other vocational instructors;
· Contractors and supervisors (trades);
· Crane operators, drillers and blasters;
· Creative and performing artists;
· Electrical trades and telecommunications occupations;
· Facility operations and maintenance managers;
· Finance and insurance occupations;
· Food counter attendants and kitchen helpers;
· Heavy equipment operators;
· Insurance and real estate salespeople;
· Legislators and senior managers;
· Librarians, archivists, conservators and curators;
· Machine operators / manufacturing / assembly workers;
· Managers in construction, transportation, financial, business, food, accommodation, public administration, health, education social, and community services;
· Masonry / plastering trades;
· Metal forming, shaping, and erecting trades;
· Food and beverage servers;
· Construction trades;
· Installers / repairers / servicers;
· Plumbers / pipefitters / gasfitters;
· Police officers / firefighters;
· Policy/program officers/researchers/consultants;
· Secondary and elementary school teachers;
· Supervisors of assembly and fabrication;
· Civil / mechanical / industrial engineering occupations;
· Technical occupations in life sciences and libraries;
· Trades helpers and labourers;
· University professors and assistants; and
· Writing, translating and public relations professionals.
Additional employment forecasts are available at http://employment.alberta.ca/lmi.
Once you have narrowed down your options, you can use the Occupational Information (OCCinfo) database of more than 500 different careers to find out more about the jobs that interest you most.
The OCCinfo (http://alis.alberta.ca/occinfo) occupational profiles include key information, including typical: duties, working conditions, salaries, required educational qualifications, appropriate training programs, common employers, employment advancement, and desired personal characteristics.
If you would like any more help planning your career, try out CareerInsite, a free online career-planning tool, at https://careerinsite.alberta.ca.
Good luck!
Do you have a work-related question? Send your questions to Working Wise, at charles.strachey@gov.ab.ca. This column is provided for general information.
