Explore Careers - Job Market Report

Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers (NOC 4164)

Athabasca--Grande Prairie--Peace River Region

Additional information on Description, Titles, Duties and Related Occupations

Description | Titles | Duties | Related Occupations

Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers conduct research, develop policy and implement or administer programs in areas such as consumer affairs, employment, home economics, immigration, law enforcement, corrections, human rights, housing, labour, family services, foreign aid and international development. They are employed by government departments and agencies, industry, hospitals, educational institutions, consulting establishments, professional associations, research institutes, non-government organizations and international organizations or they may be self-employed.

Included Job Titles

Aboriginal issues lobbyist, child welfare policy analyst, community social development officer, consumer advisor, home economist, housing policy analyst, human rights officer, international aid and development project officer, labour policy analyst, policy analyst, immigration, policy consultant, employment equity, program consultant, community policing, social policy researcher, social services planner, social survey researcher (except statistician).

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Job Duties

The following is a summary of main duties for some occupations in this unit group:

Social policy researchers develop social programs, social legislation, or proposals based on demographic, social and economic analysis and the evaluation of pilot projects.
Home economists conduct research, advise consumers on the selection and proper use of food products, textiles and other consumer goods and teach household management skills. They may also provide consultative services in the areas of development and promotion of new food products, retail buying, social program administration and small business endeavours.
Housing policy analysts identify and assess economic, demographic, and social developments and report on their implications for housing policy.
International aid and development project officers plan, organize and administer foreign aid and international development policies and programs.
Social survey researchers develop questionnaires, co-ordinate and conduct surveys, analyse data, and compile and interpret statistics on social issues and policy areas.
Social services planners conduct research, develop social programs, assess, coordinate and develop awareness of existing social services, and ensure that duplication of services is avoided. They may also work with land use planners to determine the impact of major land use plans for transportation, housing and recreational facilities projects.

Related Occupations

Additional information on included Cities in Region and Service Canada Offices

Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Included Cities in this region

Grande Prairie, Athabasca, Barrhead, Beaverlodge, Fairview, Falher, Fox Creek, Grande Cache, Grimshaw, High Level, High Prairie, Manning, Mayerthorpe, Peace River, Sexsmith, Slave Lake, Spirit River, Swan Hills, Valleyview, Wembley, Westlock, Whitecourt

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Service Canada Offices

View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers in Athabasca--Grande Prairie--Peace River Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

National Outlook – 10-Year Projection (2011-2020)

This section provides labour demand and labour supply projections for this occupation over the 2011-2020 period.

Note: The tables, graphs and middle paragraph shown under this section display updated 2011-2020 projection results. The remaining narrative text (2009-2018 projections) will be updated shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The data in the following table are derived from HRSDC’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS). COPS uses a variety of models to produce a detailed 10-year labour market projection per broad skill level and per occupation at the national level, which focuses on the trends of labour supply and labour demand over the next ten years.

This occupation (Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers) is part of a larger occupational group called Policy and Program Officers, Researchers and Consultants (NOC 416).

Table on the demographic profile for your chosen occupation at the national level.
Occupations in this group	Natural and Applied Science Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers (4161) Economists and Economic Policy Researchers and Analysts (4162) Business Development Officers and Marketing Researchers and Consultants (4163) Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers (4164) Health Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers (4165) Education Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers (4166) Recreation, Sports and Fitness Program Supervisors and Consultants (4167) Program Officers Unique to Government (4168) Other Professional Occupations in Social Science, n.e.c. (4169)
Employment (non-student) in 2010	198,634
Median Age of workers in 2010	41
Average Retirement Age in 2010	62

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, employment growth in this occupation was strong and the unemployment rate remained stable and very low (2.4% in 2010). According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was insufficient to fill job openings in this occupation.

Over the 2011-2020 period, an occupation will be in excess demand (a shortage of workers) if the projected number of job openings is significantly greater than the projected number of job seekers. An occupation will be in excess supply (a surplus of workers) if the projected number of job openings is smaller than the projected number of job seekers. For Policy And Program Officers, Researchers And Consultants, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 85,229 and 100,407 job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill the job openings.

Based on projections and considering that there was a shortage of labour supply in this occupation, it is expected that the number of job seekers will remain insufficient to fill job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Although employment growth will remain relatively high over the projection period, it will slow down significantly compared to the strong growth recorded in recent years. One of the main reasons for this slowdown is the budget freezes or cuts put in place by the federal government and some of the provincial governments. The slowdown will, however, be partially offset by the increase in the need to replace workers who retire. With regard to labour supply, the number of school leavers, who represent the vast majority of the job seekers, and immigrants will continue to increase; however, mobility will be more limited because fewer workers from other occupations will be attracted to this occupation as a result of the deterioration of its labour market conditions.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.

Table of job opening projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category	Openings	%
Expansion Demand	39,918	47%
Retirements	35,188	41%
Other Replacement Demand	5,490	6%
Emigration	4,633	5%
Projected Job Openings	85,229	100%

Table of job seeker projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category	Seekers	%
School Leavers	77,077	77%
Immigration	10,423	10%
Other	12,907	13%
Projected Job Seekers	100,407	100%

[ Source: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) ]

In which industry or sector do people in this occupation find jobs in Canada?

This table shows the industry and sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.

This table shows the industry sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.
Industry / Sector	%
Public administration	51.80
Health care and social assistance	15.40
Other services (except public administration)	15.10

[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are self-employed?

The graph displays the percentage of people in this occupation who are “self-employed”, according to the 2006 Census, in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

As shown in the graph, according to the 2006 Census, 6% of people in this occupation were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 12%.

The Labour Force Survey also gives us some information about self-employment. This occupation (Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers) is part of a larger group called Policy and Program Officers, Researchers and Consultants (NOC 416). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 11% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What proportion of men and women work in this occupation?

The graph displays the proportion of men and women in this occupation in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), women represented 62% of workers in this occupation, compared to the average of 48% for all occupations.

[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada / Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are members of a union?

This occupation (Social Policy Researchers, Consultants and Program Officers) is part of a larger group called Policy and Program Officers, Researchers and Consultants (NOC 416). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 43%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.