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 (Authors and Writers) is part of a larger occupational group called Writing, Translating and Public Relations Professionals (NOC 512).

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation saw strong employment growth, but its unemployment rate still increased slightly. The unemployment rate is still lower than the average for all occupations. The average hourly wage increased at a rate consistent with all occupations. 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 Writing, Translating And Public Relations Professionals, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 58,262 and 54,459 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. Retirements will be the main source of job openings over the projection period. The retirement rate will still be on par with the average, as, although many workers in this occupation are in general slightly older than those in other occupations, they also retire a little later. Moreover, nearly one third of job openings over the projection period will arise from expansion demand, which will be distinctly lower than during the 2001-2010 period, but will nevertheless remain an essential source of labour demand. New technologies such as search engines, machine translation, and the Internet in general will be the cause of weaker job creation over the projection period. These new technologies increase workers' productivity, resulting in a decrease in demand for writing, translation and journalism professionals. In addition, media mergers have reduced the need for journalists. However, in an increasingly competitive economy, public relations professionals remain in high demand. In terms of supply, the vast 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, 51% 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 (Authors and Writers) is part of a larger group called Writing, Translating and Public Relations Professionals (NOC 512). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 31% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

What proportion of people in this occupation work full-time and part-time?

The graph displays the proportion of people in this occupation who worked full-time and part-time in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 70% of workers in this occupation worked full-time, compared to the average of 81% for all occupations.

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 60% 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 (Authors and Writers) is part of a larger group called Writing, Translating and Public Relations Professionals (NOC 512). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 30%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.