It is not so easy to start a new life and job in a new nation, but this will help you get started for a successful career in Canada.
Choosing a career path is one of the toughest decisions in our lives. Your talents and interests should be key factors, of course, but it’s also helpful to know which jobs are the most promising based on hard numbers. The annual Canadian Business Best Jobs ranking considers salaries, employment growth and future prospects to point you towards the careers with the highest pay and the greatest potential.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that many of these jobs are in health care, the trades and STEM fields. But there are also some fun surprises that may appeal to you. In this post, we present to you the top 10 exciting careers to pursue in Canada.
Table of Contents
1. Human Resources Manager
This job involves taking a senior role in a human resources department. Areas of responsibility include recruitment, training, collective bargaining with unions and the administration of pay and benefits.
Job Qualifications: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as business administration, industrial relations or commerce. If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, you could complete a professional development program in personnel administration. Several years of experience in human resources is also required.
Salary: The median salary for human resources managers is $94,000.
Career Opportunity: Unfortunately, this field has shrunk over the past five years, with 6% fewer people working as human resources managers than there were in 2013. By 2024, the Canadian government predicts there will be an even number of jobs and job seekers.
2. School Principal & Administrator
School principals supervise teachers and other staff at elementary and secondary schools. This category also includes school administrators like superintendents and directors of education, who control the affairs of a school system.
Job Qualifications: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in education and perhaps a master’s degree. After that, you’ll require several years’ experience as a senior teacher or department head.
Salary: The median salary for school principals and administrators is $100,000.
Career Opportunity: This field has seen very little growth over the past five years, with just 1% more school principals and administrators in Canada than there were in 2013.
3. Financial Manager
Every organization needs someone to keep the books straight. People in this field head up financial and accounting departments, develop policies and performance standards and write reports for senior management. Duties might include preparing financial statements, coordinating budgets and alerting management to trends that might affect a company’s financial performance.
Job Qualifications: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in a field such as business administration, economics or commerce. A master’s degree in business administration might also be helpful. These are senior positions, so you’ll require several years of experience in fields such as accounting, auditing, budgeting or financial planning.
Salary: The median salary for financial managers is $96,000.
Career Opportunity: One downside to this career is it isn’t growing very quickly, with just 3% more people working as financial managers than there were five years ago. Five years from now, the specialists predict there won’t be quite enough jobs for all those seeking work in this field.
4. Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists help address illnesses, injuries or developmental disorders. Job responsibilities might include developing intervention programs to address clients’ needs, maintaining records and supervising support personnel.
Job Qualifications: You’ll need a university degree in occupational therapy and to complete a national or provincial certification exam. Some occupational therapists get additional training and experience to become specialists in certain areas.
Salary: The median salary for occupational therapists is $82,000.
Career Opportunity: In five years, the Canadian government predicts there will be slightly more jobs than people looking for work in this field.
5. Police Officer
Police officers protect the public, prevent crime and maintain law and order. This category includes a variety of different types of police officers, from detectives to railway police to highway patrollers.
Job Qualifications: You’ll need a high school diploma and likely a college or university degree as well. After that, you’ll need to take a three- to six month police training program, meeting physical and psychological fitness tests.
Salary: The median salary for a police officer is $88,000.
Job Outlook: This field has been growing, with 18% more people employed as police officers in 2020 than there were five years before.
6. Electronics Engineer
These engineers are behind our electrical systems and electronic equipment. Their responsibilities might include designing electronic circuits, planning new electrical distribution networks or investigating electrical failures.
Job Qualifications: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in electrical or electronics engineering and possibly a master’s or doctoral degree in a related discipline. After that, it takes three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering before you can take a professional practice exam. To practice as a professional engineer, you’re required to be licensed by a provincial or territorial body.
Salary: The median salary for electronics engineers is $90,000.
Job Outlook: Growth in this field has been sluggish, with only 8% more people working as electronics engineers than there were five years ago.
7. Scientific Research Manager
You’ll oversee the technical work done by your employer, which might be an architectural firm, a statistical service or a scientific department. You’ll plan and direct the firm or department’s activities, assign and review technical work and recruit staff.
Job Qualifications: If you’re working in architecture or landscape architecture, you’ll need a related degree along with licensing. Scientific managers will need a Master’s or doctoral degree in science. Finally, you’ll need several years of related experience.
Salary: The median salary for a scientific research manager is $102,000.
Career Opportunity: Five years from now, the Canadian government predicts there will be slightly more jobs than people looking for work.
8. Dentist
You know what a dentist does (If not, you’re due for a checkup). Dentists keep your teeth and mouth healthy by diagnosing, treating and preventing disorders.
Job Qualifications: You’ll need one to four years of pre-dentistry university studies or, in Quebec, a college diploma in the sciences. After that, you’ll need a university degree from a recognized dental program. Plus, you’ll need to be licensed by a provincial or territorial regulatory body. Moving into specialized practice requires additional training.
Salary: The median salary for a dentist is $93,600.
Job Outlook: The number of dentists has increased 63% over the past five years. Specialists predict that growth will continue, with more jobs than people looking for work in the field by 2024.
Also Read: 10 Best Schools for International Students in Canada
9. Nurse Practitioner
As the population ages, careers in the health care industry are becoming increasingly in demand. These primary healthcare providers work with doctors and other professionals to provide a variety of services. In addition to nurse practitioners, this job category includes physician assistants and midwives. People in this field might work in a hospital, a community clinic or a birthing centre. Your job duties could include anything from administering vaccinations to delivering babies.
Job Qualifications: The requirements for these jobs vary depending on the type of work. Nurse practitioners usually need a Master’s degree in nursing, while physician assistants and midwives require university degrees in related programs. Depending on the province you live in and the type of job, you may also need to register with a regulatory body.
Salary: People in this job category earn a median salary of $104,000.
Career Opportunity: The number of people employed in this field has increased 75% over the last five years. By 2024, there will be more jobs in this field than people looking for work.
10. Utility Manager
Water, electrical power, natural gas—if it’s a utility, these managers take care of it. Whether it’s in the public or private sector, utility managers supervise the facilities, plants, and distribution systems that bring power to the people.
Job Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree or diploma related to your chosen field: electrical engineering for power utilities, oil and gas engineering for natural gas distribution, and so on. You’ll need to be experienced as a supervisor before moving up, though.
Salary: The median annual paycheque of a utility manager comes in at about $114,000, with broad variation based on the kind of utility.
Career Opportunity: The government predicts that for managers in manufacturing and utilities, there will be 3,100 new job openings through 2024, with only 2,900 job seekers to fill them. That spells opportunity, but since these are senior positions, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate proven experience.
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Why Start a Career in Canada
Canada is about to welcome more than 400,000 immigrants in 2021 and over 1.2 million by 2023, making the Great White North the number one choice for many deciding to start a career in canada. Starting a career in Canada can be a life-changing experience, with many benefits and opportunities for growth. Here is why so many choose to live and work in Canada.
1. Employment in Canada
With tens of thousands of jobs created each month, Canada has a very low unemployment rate compared to other developed countries. Canada ranks high in modern technologies and is rapidly advancing, making this the best place for IT professionals and computer scientists. Telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and engineering are some of the most popular industries in many cities around Canada.
If you have a valid work permit, your spouse or common-law partner can work in Canada too. They will have to obtain their own work permit but will not need a job offer and may accept any job offer in Canada. Kids will be able to study for free at elementary and secondary schools, and all these factors will count in your favour when applying for permanent residency in Canada.
2. Working Benefits for Career in Canada
Unlike most countries where you pay extreme amounts of money for healthcare or free healthcare is poor, Canada offers government-funded healthcare for residents and companies offer affordable healthcare plans for employees.
Working Policies
There are benefits for women who are pregnant, recently given birth or adopted a child. Pregnancy advice for women includes good health and nutrition suggestions etc.
Canada’s Prenatal Nutrition program is created for expecting mothers facing challenging circumstances. The program includes nutrition guidance, food and preparation training, prenatal vitamin supplementation, breastfeeding education, and maternal lifestyle counselling.
3. Cost of Living in Canada
The cost of living in Canada is very affordable compared to other developed countries. Housing is affordable depending on the area you choose to stay in. Food, gas, and even cars are cheaper than in other well-developed countries. The country also has a low crime rate, making it one of the safest places to live in the world.
Finally, without a doubt, Canada is one of the best work destinations. Therefore, if you’re searching for the best careers to pursue in Canada, you’re in the right place. We believe the information we have shared will help you make the right choice when considering a career in Canada.