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 (Systems Testing Technicians) is part of a larger occupational group called Technical Occupations in Computer and Information Systems (NOC 228).

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced a significant drop in employment. The unemployment rate increased more quickly than for other occupations and was higher than the average. The average hourly wage increased at a rate similar to that for all occupations over this period. 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 Computer and Information Systems, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 49,381 and 61,004 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 continue to be sufficient to fill the job openings in this occupation over the 2011-2020 period. Job openings will result from both employment growth and retirements. In fact, growth from expansion demand will be higher than for other occupations over the projection period. However, expansion demand will be clearly weaker than it was over the 2001-2010 period. Despite the significant number of job openings that will arise from retirements, the retirement rate for this occupation will be lower than for other occupations. This is normal given that the workers are generally younger than they are in other occupations. With regard to labour supply, the majority of job seekers will come from the school system given the nature of the occupation. It should also be noted that a significant number of immigrants will work in 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, 4% 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 (Systems Testing Technicians) is part of a larger group called Technical Occupations in Computer and Information Systems (NOC 228). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 3% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

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 40% 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 (Systems Testing Technicians) is part of a larger group called Technical Occupations in Computer and Information Systems (NOC 228). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 26%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.