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 (Executive Assistants) is part of a larger occupational group called Administrative and Regulatory Occupations (NOC 122).

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced employment growth, although the unemployment rate increased slightly. The average hourly wage for this occupation also increased very slightly over this period. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was sufficient to fill all 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 Administrative And Regulatory Occupations, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 204,093 and 134,714 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 become insufficient to fill the job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Retirements will account for the majority (61%) of these job openings. The retirement rate for this occupation will be high over the projection period, surpassing the average retirement rate for all occupations. This is due to the fact that workers in this occupation are on average older than those in other occupations and retire somewhat earlier. Demand arising from economic growth will also be an appreciable source of job openings over the projection period. However, the creation of new jobs will be much weaker than over the 2001-2010 period. The relatively weak employment growth is largely attributable to a slowdown in economic activity relative to recent years, which leads to a decreased demand for administrative workers. With regard to labour supply, the majority of job seekers will come from the school system.

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, 2% 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 (Executive Assistants) is part of a larger group called Administrative and Regulatory Occupations (NOC 122). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 6% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

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

This occupation (Executive Assistants) is part of a larger group called Administrative and Regulatory Occupations (NOC 122). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 29%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.