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 (Forestry Professionals) is part of a larger occupational group called Life Science Professionals (NOC 212).

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced a drop in employment and its unemployment rate increased. Moreover, the average hourly wage grew slightly less quickly than the average for all occupations, but remained high. 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 Life Science Professionals, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 10,440 and 10,875 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 over the 2008-2010 period, it is expected that the number of job seekers will remain sufficient to fill job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Job openings will arise from both new positions due to expansion demand and retirements. Employment growth will be slightly stronger than average in this occupation over the projection period even though the budget constraints that various levels of government are facing will have a negative impact on job creation. However, investments in the health and biomedical research sector will remain very strong. Retirements will also represent a major source of job openings. The retirement rate will be similar to the average rate for all occupations. With regard to labour supply, the majority of job seekers will come from the school system, which is not surprising, considering the very specialized nature of this occupation.

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, 19% 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 percentage of people in this occupation are members of a union?

This occupation (Forestry Professionals) is part of a larger group called Life Science Professionals (NOC 212). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 33%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.