Explore Careers - Job Market Report

in
Printing Options
Technical Sales Specialists – Wholesale Trade  (NOC 6221)
Northeast Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

Technical sales specialists, wholesale trade, sell a range of technical goods and services, such as scientific and industrial products, electricity, telecommunications services and computer services, to governments and to commercial and industrial establishments in domestic and international localities. They are employed by establishments that produce or provide technical goods and services, such as pharmaceutical companies, industrial equipment manufacturing companies, computer services firms, engineering firms and hydroelectric companies, or may be self-employed technical sales specialists/agents who contract their services to other companies. Technical sales specialists who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

aircraft sales representative, communication equipment sales representative, construction equipment sales representative, electricity sales representative, heavy equipment sales representative, industrial supplies sales representative, medical instruments sales agent, sales engineer, technical support, software sales representative, technical sales representative, technical sales supervisor, technical support specialist.

View all

Technical sales specialists perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Promote sales to existing clients
  • Identify and solicit potential clients
  • Assess clients' needs and resources and recommend the appropriate goods or services
  • Provide input into product design where goods or services must be tailored to suit clients' needs
  • Develop reports and proposals as part of sales presentation to illustrate benefits from use of good or service
  • Estimate costs of installing and maintaining equipment or service
  • Prepare and administer sales contracts
  • Consult with clients after sale to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support
  • Troubleshoot technical problems related to equipment
  • May train customers' staff in the operation and maintenance of equipment
  • May conduct sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce
  • May supervise the activities of other technical sales specialists.

Technical sales specialists usually specialize in a particular line of goods or services.

Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Sudbury, Elliot Lake, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Algo, Blind River, Capreol, Cobalt, Englehart, Espanola, Garson Junction, Haileybury, Hearst, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Kirkland Lake, Mattawa, New Liskeard, Nickel Centre, Parry Sound, Powassan, Temiskaming Shores, Thessalon, Valley East, Blezard Valley, Carol Richard Park, Connaught Hill, Dowling, Elmview, Finntown, Flake, Guilletville, Hanmer, Laurentien, Levack, Lively, McCrea Heights, Naughton, Parkwood, Pinecrest, Porcupine, Pottsville, South Porcupine, Val Caron, Val Therese

View all

View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Technical Sales Specialists – Wholesale Trade in Northeast Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

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 (Technical Sales Specialists – Wholesale Trade) is part of a larger occupational group called Technical Sales Specialists, Wholesale Trade (NOC 622).

Table on the demographic profile for your chosen occupation at the national level.
Occupations in this group Technical Sales Specialists – Wholesale Trade (6221) 
Employment (non-student) in 2010 111,016
Median Age of workers in 2010 42
Average Retirement Age in 2010 61

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced a slight decline in employment and the unemployment rate increased more quickly than average. The average hourly wage remained practically unchanged although it is much higher than for comparable occupations. 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 Sales Specialists, Wholesale Trade, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 42,792 and 32,972 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 demand and supply in this occupation are balanced, there will be a sufficient number of job seekers to fill job openings over the projection period. The majority of job openings will come from retirements because workers in this occupation are older than in other occupations. Expansion demand will be significantly higher than in the 2001-2010 period, when this occupation experienced job losses. As was the case over the last ten years, the majority of job seekers will be school leavers.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.
Table of job opening projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category Openings %
Expansion Demand 11,086 26%
Retirements 25,567 60%
Other Replacement Demand 3,736 9%
Emigration 2,402 6%
Projected Job Openings 42,792 100%
Table of job seeker projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category Seekers %
School Leavers 29,356 89%
Immigration 3,103 9%
Other 512 2%
Projected Job Seekers 32,972 100%
[ Source: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) ]

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.

This table shows the industry sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.
Industry / Sector %
Wholesale trade 56.60
Manufacturing 15.40
Professional, scientific and technical services 12.50
Information and cultural industries 3.40
[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

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, 9% 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 (Technical Sales Specialists - Wholesale Trade) is part of a larger group called Technical Sales Specialists, Wholesale Trade (NOC 622). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 20% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

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), 93% of workers in this occupation worked full-time, compared to the average of 81% for all occupations.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

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 30% of workers in this occupation, compared to the average of 48% for all occupations.

[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada / Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

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

This occupation (Technical Sales Specialists - Wholesale Trade) is part of a larger group called Technical Sales Specialists, Wholesale Trade (NOC 622). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 8%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]
Please consult the Northeast Region and Ontario tabs for more useful information related to outlook.