25 Careers in Need of Job Seekers, Part 1: A-D
From engineering to dentistry, these jobs will have more openings than applicants over the next 5 years.
The Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) evaluates hundreds of career categories to determine how many job openings the future holds. Current projections range from 2017 to 2026.
There are three main results categories: Balance, Surplus, and Shortage.
- Balance means there will be more or less the same number of people moving into a career category as moving out of it, accounting for population and economic growth. There will be some competition for jobs, but no more than usual.
- Surplus means there's probably going to be more people seeking jobs than there will be openings to support them. This means jobs in this category may be hard to come by!
- Shortage means there's likely going to be more openings available than people to fill them. You may have an easier time finding employment in a category projected to be in shortage.
This last category is what we're focusing on today. COPS expects a total of 25 career categories to be in shortage between 2017 and 2026. Over the next few weeks, we'll look at each in turn, starting at the top of the alphabet.
25 Careers in Need of Job Seekers, part 1: A-D
Aerospace engineers build and test the gear that puts stuff into space. Everything from satellites for GPS to missles for defense — including human-operated spacecraft — goes through aerospace engineers.
Tasks
To design and construct such intricate machines, aerospace engineers develop advanced computer simulations using a lot of high-tier math. They prepare and test materials and processes to ensure tricky space launches come off without a hitch, and work out the operational specs, maintenance procedures, and even operator's manuals.
Requirements
Typically, you'll want at least a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering — or something related, like engineering physics — but to advance in the field, you should look into a master's degree and even a doctorate. Further, you'll have to prove your cred as an engineer to a provincial certification board. Space is serious stuff!
Check out over a dozen schools for aerospace engineers.
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are medical professionals who evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with hearing loss, balance problems, and communication disorders around speech production and comprehension.
Tasks
Audiologists are focused on hearing: they use specialized tech to test patients' hearing, and develop plans of treatment that might include an amplification device like a hearing aid or even lip reading skills! They counsel patients, families, and may conduct new research in their areas of expertise.
SLPs are focused on speech production: they test for and treat speech, voice, language, cognitive, and even swallowing disorders. Working with an interdisciplinary team, SLPs coach patients and their families through the development, planning, and implementation of speech therapy, and may research communication disorders and devices.
Requirements
To become an audiologist or SLP, you'll need a master's degree — in audiology or speech-language pathology, as appropriate — alongside membership in the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. You may need to register with a provincial body, too.
Check out a handful of schools for audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
Programmers make the world go 'round. They're on the front lines, developing, writing, testing, and implementing the untold lines of code that power all sorts of software, from your computer's notepad app to its very operating system.
Tasks
Computer programmers work in many industries, writing and testing code to build new applications and maintain existing ones. They prepare software and its documentation, working with large and small teams to identify and address user needs.
Interactive media developers focus on media, including video games, the internet, and even films. They write and test code for special effects and animation software, and bring life to gaming, for everything from the latest shoot-em-up to the most addicting smartphone tap-fest.
Requirements
Program and game devs generally need a degree or diploma in computer science with a significant programming component. Specializing further requires further training at the post-grad level — or at the least, good old-fashioned work experience.
Check out dozens of schools for computer programmers and interactive media developers.
Database analysts and data admins develop, implement, and administer data management policies and procedures in the public and private sectors. The 2.5 quintillion bytes of data generated each day has to go somewhere: data admins ensure their databases are up to date and functioning smoothly.
Tasks
Database analysts design and develop database architecture according to user requirements. They test, model, and build database management systems for specific information projects. They may conduct research on the latest database management tools, and work within their systems to crunch numbers and analyze data.
Data administrators research, develop, and implement data policy and standards, building robust structures for data access and security. They research and create procedures for network database access, as well as backup and recovery processes. Data admins may work with other informatics professionals on collection, storage, and security of data.
Requirements
Data professionals usually require a degree or diploma in computer science or mathematics, with programming experience a considerable asset.
Check out a few schools for database analysts and data administrators.
Smile! Dentists are healthcare providers for your teeth and mouth. They often work in private practice, or may be employed in the public sphere, in hospitals, clinics, and universities. And no, they're not as scary as you might fear.
Tasks
Dentists examine patients' teeth and gums, as well as the delicate tissue surrounding them, to identify injury, disease and decay, and provide treatment. They perform routine cleaning, and may extract decayed or diseased teeth. Dentists also design and provide dental appliances like braces, or write prescriptions for denturists and technicians.
Dentists may specialize in particular areas, like orthodontics, oral pathology, or maxillofacial surgery. These specialties require advanced training and additional licensing!
Requirements
To become a dental professional of any sort, you'll need a degree from a recognized dental school, as well as certification by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada.
Check out nearly a dozen schools for dentists.
Stay tuned for more entires in the series! In the meantime, check out more articles around jobs and careers.
