Most In-Demand Jobs in Canada

In 2022, the world of work looked very different than in previous years. The pandemic shaped the future of work, as more people are working from home or are in hybrid models. Employers are looking for candidates with skills that weren’t as relevant before 2020, like customer service and cybersecurity. More jobs are becoming available and will continue to be in demand in the coming years.

If you’re starting your career or looking for a change, consider learning one of the valuable skills you’ll need for one of these most in-demand jobs in Canada for 2023 and beyond.

Most In-Demand Jobs in Canada

Software Engineer

Since the beginning of 2020, there has been an increased need for software engineers. The demand has only skyrocketed from there, with great job prospects in almost every province in Canada. What’s interesting is that the number of job seekers looking for a role in this industry has dropped, meaning software engineers’ salaries are currently at an all-time high of $92,478 per year.

With the technology boom in Canada and over 12 unicorn startups that have grown in the last year alone, there has been an increased demand for experienced software engineers. Every year, these professionals are expected to have job growth of at least 12%, and 27,500 new job openings are expected from 2019 until 2028.

Their Role

Software engineers design, test, and create computer programs and systems to solve real-world problems. Their duties include planning how the pieces of an application will work together, creating the interface and database that users will interact with, and ensuring that the software functions normally through maintenance and testing.

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity has become a concern for many remote working teams, as there has been a  large number of cyberattacks since the beginning of the pandemic. As people are working from home, they are increasingly becoming targeted by hackers. Companies need to keep an eye on this to prevent possible attacks, thus, the major demand for cybersecurity analysts.

According to Deloitte, Canadian companies will be hiring around 8,000 cybersecurity analysts by the end of 2022. The number of jobs for cybersecurity professionals is growing by 7% each year, and their average annual salary is $142,502 in 2023.

Their Role

Cybersecurity analysts are in charge of protecting a company’s networks and servers from cyber attacks. They plan, implement, and execute security procedures to ensure the organization’s digital assets are protected. It is an extremely technical role where you must have skills such as computer programming, knowledge of IT fundamentals, and experience in operating systems.

Delivery Driver

Nowadays, many people don’t want to leave their houses for non-essential shopping. Since 2020, there has been a rise in people ordering almost everything online, including food from delivery apps, such as UberEats and SkipTheDishes. Thus, the need for delivery drivers has grown. 

While delivery jobs have been in demand for the last few years, the demand has grown even more due to the need for short-distance deliveries within cities. From 2019-2028, 26,900 new jobs are expected to be available in Canada for courier service drivers. Large companies such as Amazon are hiring delivery drivers with an average pay of $20/hour.

Their Role

Delivery drivers drive automobiles and trucks to pick up and deliver various items. They load goods, use navigation tools to arrive at the correct location and deliver parcels. They may be employed by a large company, such as a post office or Amazon, or self-employed, working on their own schedule with delivery apps.

Administrative Assistant

As many companies are now moving away from the office and working from home, the demand for administrative assistants has grown. For many organizations, assistants are needed to help support the transition from working in the office full-time to the team working remotely. The average hourly rate for administrative assistants is $23.19 per hour.

Sectors such as customer service, digital marketing, and human resources are much busier now than before; thus, companies in these industries need more administrative assistants. There are currently over 5,000 open administrative assistant roles across Canada, with an expected total of 41,700 openings from 2019-2028. The balance between job seekers and job openings is relatively consistent and is expected to continue over the coming years.

Their Role

Administrative assistants perform a variety of administrative tasks for individual clients or organizations. They provide support for colleagues in various areas, including preparing documents, arranging files, booking appointments and meetings, and answering phone calls. Some administrative assistants are also known as virtual assistants. They typically work from home and can be freelance, taking on a few clients at a time.

Project Manager

As businesses are reopening across the country and the economy recovers from the effects of the pandemic, project managers are in high demand for various roles and projects across different sectors. They are not only important for ensuring the project is completed on time, but they help keep employees motivated and on the right track.

According to a report by the Project Management Institute, the demand for project managers is growing much more rapidly than the demand for employees in other occupations. By 2027, an estimated 87.7 million people will be needed to work in project management roles in 11 countries, with around 90,000 new project managers hired in Canada. The job pays well, too. The average annual salary in 2023 is $85,183, with senior project managers being paid much higher.

Their Role

Project managers work in various sectors, including manufacturing and construction, IT services and publishing, and finance and insurance. They are responsible for planning and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. Their duties include carefully mapping out how projects will be completed, improving communication within the team, and managing risks and potential problems by analyzing trends.

Customer Service Representative

With the rise of online shopping, customer service representatives are in high demand in many sectors, from finance to tech to retail. Companies have received a record number of calls from customers in 2020 and early 2021, asking about their COVID protocol, cancelling plans, or simply needing a refund. Many of these calls have died down by now, but customer service reps are still very much in high demand.

For customer service representatives working in financial institutions, 11,300 new jobs are expected to be available in Canada from 2019-2028, with just as many job seekers available to fill those positions. Although this role isn’t the most highly paid at an average of $18.24/hr in 2023, there are opportunities for advancement.

Their Role

Customer service representatives play a crucial role in the customer’s overall experience with a brand or organization. They answer inquiries, provide information about the goods sold by an establishment, and provide customer services like receiving payments and processing service requests. Customer service reps may work from home if they are working for an online company or remote call center.

Conclusion

Based on the past years’ most in-demand jobs and the implications of the pandemic, the jobs in the above list are expected to be the most in-demand in Canada for 2023 and will continue to rise in demand. Job openings are available across Canada for those with almost any skill. There’s no time like the present to put your skills to use and apply for a position at a company looking for one of these highly demanded roles.