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 (Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians) is part of a larger occupational group called Technical Occupations in Civil, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (NOC 223).

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced very strong employment growth and a slight decrease in the unemployment rate. However, the hourly wage increased little. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was sufficient to fill the 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 Technical Occupations In Civil, Mechanical And Industrial Engineering, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 29,027 and 31,896 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 labour supply and demand in this occupation were balanced, it is expected that the labour market conditions for this occupation will remain balanced over the 2011-2020 period. The majority of job openings will result from retirements. The retirement rate will be similar to the average rate for all occupations. Although expansion demand will not create as many job openings as retirements, it will still be slightly higher than average. Just like engineers, technical occupations will benefit from the large amounts that will be invested in public and private infrastructure in the coming years. With regard to labour supply, the majority of job seekers will come directly from the school system. Analysis shows that, although the number of school leavers will be high, the number of school leavers in related fields of study is even higher. Hence, if all these school leavers decide to seek employment in this occupation over the 2011-2020 period, the number of job seekers will greatly exceed the number of job openings. In the projection period, immigrants will also represent a significant proportion of job seekers since knowledge and experience in engineering gained abroad is more easily transferable than knowledge and experience gained in other occupations.

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

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.

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, 5% of people in this occupation were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 12%.

The data from the Labour Force Survey (2009) regarding self-employment for this group are not sufficiently reliable to be published.

What is the proportion of women working 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 23% of workers in this occupation, compared to the average of 48% for all occupations.

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

This occupation (Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians) is part of a larger group called Technical Occupations in Civil, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (NOC 223). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 25%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.