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 (Industrial Electricians) is part of a larger occupational group called Electrical Trades and Telecommunication Occupations (NOC 724).

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation saw employment growth, although the unemployment rate also increased to 8.2% in 2010. The average hourly wage increased more quickly than for other occupations and remains one of the highest among the trades. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was sufficient 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 Electrical Trades And Telecommunications Occupations, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 87,923 and 71,450 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 number of job seekers will remain sufficient to fill job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Job openings will arise mainly from retirements. The retirement rate will be slightly above the average. Over the projection period, economic growth will result in fewer new jobs than over the previous ten years. However, employment growth will be higher than average because the anticipated large increase in capital spending on infrastructure and engineering projects, mainly in the energy and mining sectors, should help to sustain growth in construction activities. In terms of supply, the vast majority of job seekers will come from the school system. Some of these new workers will replace those who leave for another occupation, mainly in management. However, some workers will leave this occupation because of the slowdown in residential construction. This situation is quite different from the one experienced over the 2001-2010 period, when many workers came from other occupations to take advantage of the high demand in this sector.

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 (Industrial Electricians) is part of a larger group called Electrical Trades and Telecommunication Occupations (NOC 724). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 9% 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 (Industrial Electricians) is part of a larger group called Electrical Trades and Telecommunication Occupations (NOC 724). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 60%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.