3 ways to use Census data to choose your career path in Canada
By News Canada
Whether you’re a newcomer looking for employment opportunities in Canada or are thinking of transitioning to a new field, it can be hard to know what direction to take.
Where are the most opportunities? Which jobs pay the best salaries? What’s available in your area? Census data from Statistics Canada can help – here’s how:
View education levels. There is plenty of information on what kind of education people are receiving, whether it’s at the trade school, college, bachelor, master or doctorate level. This can help you find whether you’ll be competing with many people for the same roles, or if your degree has a unique offering.
Explore demographic trends. The Statistics Canada website features user-friendly data visualization tools to let you see trends in ages, family sizes, languages and more that you can use to make informed decisions. For example, if there is a large number of seniors in your community, work in a retirement home or long-term care facility can be in high demand. If you’re thinking of starting your own business and notice an influx of young families, a community daycare centre may be a profitable venture.
Check out incomes. If you’re looking for something that pays above average, Census data can help you determine what that average is. Look for sectors that pay above and beyond the median and gain evidence to argue for a higher salary when you do get that new job offer.
We all want our work to have a positive impact on the world and the people around us. Our jobs make a difference for the people around us in different ways – here are a few that can be found in most communities:
Dieticians. Dieticians do a lot more than help people manage their weight. These professionals go through extensive training and education in order to help their clients get the right nutrients and energy from the food they eat. They also help those with health conditions like diabetes or heart disease manage their conditions through diet.
Construction workers. Construction workers are essential to ensuring our communities run smoothly. Whether they’re expanding roads to reduce traffic congestion, building new schools or community centres, or making hospitals or places of worship more energy efficient, construction workers have a major impact on our daily lives.
Even in our digital age, libraries remain as important as ever. These public spaces allow people to exchange ideas, learn new things and gather as a community. Librarians facilitate this, leading cultural programming and helping visitors navigate library services and media. They also help instill a love of reading and learning in children, which improves the social and cultural fabric of any community.
Census workers. Even though this is a temporary job, Census enumerators and crew leaders gather essential data that shape government policies, services and programs in order to support communities and vulnerable populations. Census data are also useful to individuals, helping them learn more about Canadians near and far. Applications for enumerators and crew leaders for the upcoming census open in January 2021, with start dates in April 2021.
Some options for flexible jobs that make a real impact include:
Online teacher. This rewarding job lets you work from the comfort of your own home while helping others learn new things. There are a variety of jobs to choose from, depending on your education, experience, availability and preferred time commitment. You can become anything from a one-on-one tutor for an ESL student to a college professor teaching a course on your industry.
Home care provider. As Canada’s population ages, there is an increasing need for people who can help seniors still living at home. This is a great way to lend support and connect with someone who may be experiencing isolation. You can pick tasks and times that work for your schedule, such as meal preparation, laundry, grocery shopping, transportation and companionship.
More info on Census data at statcan.gc.ca/census and census.gc.ca/jobs