Labour Market Trends 2009
TOP 10 JOBS CANADIAN EMPLOYERS ARE SEEKING
- SKILLED TRADES SUCH AS CARPENTERS AND PLUMBERS
- SALES REPRESENTATIVES
- ENGINEERS
- MEDICAL TECHNICIANS
- SECRETARIES AND OFFICE SUPPORT STAFF
- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
- DRIVERS
- ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE
- LABOURERS
- NURSES
SOURCE: MANPOWER CANADA
JOBLESS RATE HITS 10%
More than 10% of the city's work force is unemployed, the highest jobless rate in Toronto in almost 15 years, according to Statistics Canada. On the plus side most financial experts are predicting the end of the current recession.
This means that now more than ever job seekers need to monitor the local labour market to ensure that they have the skills to meet the needs of employers.
Understand what employers are looking for. Match your transferrable skills to the needs of employers.
Create an effective job search package. Resumes, cover letters, business cards and a prepared five minute sales pitch will all assist you with your job search.
Diversify your job search. Don't just settle for sending out your resume to the online job boards, focus on networking, cold calling or by conducting information interviews.
Seek out job search assistance. Visit www.careerfoundation.com to find out how we can help with your job search.
IT JOBS
Many Canadians are using Information and Communications Technology devices these days, but not enough Canadians are entering the field of ICT. And that has left the country with a shortage of qualified workers, according to a national survey conducted for the Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow's ICT Skills (CCICT).
In the next eight years, ICT professionals believe that Canadian businesses will need to employ more than 60,000 new workers.
"I don't know of a business working today that doesn't employ ICT specialists," says Paul Swinwood, president of the not-for-profit Information and Communications Technology Council, who says the shortage is leading to ICT work being shipped offshore.
Labour Force Survey data on ICT employment indicates that there are 250,000 jobs in the GTA alone.
And the pay is good – about 21 per cent of the sector earns more than $84,000 a year, according to Swinwood, and 80 per cent earn more than $50,000 annually.
So where will the new ICT workers come from? Will it be you?
Toronto Star: September 2009