By the Monster Career Coach
At the far west coast of Canada, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, lies Vancouver, Lotus Land to some (a reference to Greek history where citizens ate the Lotus flower to feel more relaxed), though it is actually a bustling city with one of the mildest climates in the country.
Vancouver is the eighth largest city in Canada with a population of 578,000. It’s part of Metro Vancouver, the third largest metropolitan area in Canada, with 2.1 million residents. The city boasts numerous communities, reflecting its ethnic diversity and nearness to Asia on the opposite side of the Pacific.
The global slowdown has affected the city’s overall economic performance. For instance, the unemployment rate rose from 4.5% - among the country’s lowest – to 7.4%, from October 2008 to October 2009. Still this is below the recent national unemployment rate of 8.9%.
Movers and Shakers in Vancouver
There is a great deal of activity in and around Vancouver these days. Here’s what is leading the pack:
The 2010 Winter Olympics
February 2010 marks the start of the Winter Olympic Games, an event that will literally bring the world to Vancouver and British Columbia. This will be followed by the Paralympic Games (for those differently abled). There is demand, therefore, for jobs in the following areas:
- construction workers, builders, electricians, plumbers, road crews, and other trades
- law enforcement and security providers of all types, sanitation crews
- marketing, advertising, promotions, public relations
- IT specialists, computers and electronic communications
- event management, business management, finance, executive positions
- tourism related, e.g. hotel and restaurant staff, information booth staff, greeters, guides
- retail (sales people, cashiers, counter help, store managers, designers)
Film Production
Known for years as “Hollywood North,” Vancouver is the third largest film production metropolis in North America, behind Los Angeles and New York City. Some popular flicks filmed there? X Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four, I Robot, and the Twilight sequel New Moon. Also television shows like Fringe, early X-Files, Cold Squad and Da Vinci’s Inquest. Because $1Billion a year is spent here on production, the following jobs are hot:
- set designers, location scouts, producers, directors, camera operators
- electricians, carpenters and other trades people to create and maintain the sets
- best boys, gaffes, gophers, grips, foley artists (specialized film production jobs)
- actors, make-up and hair stylists, personal trainers and chefs, assistants
- editors, writers, post-production digital enhancers, voice overs, special effects
Green Economic Sector (environmental)
In 2009 the city chose to re-brand itself as "Vancouver Green Capital," a name that’s at the heart of creating of a robust, long-term strategy that will guide the City's pursuit of sustainable economic opportunities from around the world. Jobs that are sprouting up in cleantech, renewable energy and conservation include:
- environmental consultants, environmental engineers, conservation movement workers
- green building architects, organic farmers, environmental lawyers, ecology educators
- sales/marketing staff working with the above services or products
- electricians who install solar panels, plumbers who install solar water heaters, construction workers who build energy-efficient green buildings and weatherize buildings to make them more energy efficient, technicians involved in clean, renewable, sustainable energy
Slower Spots in Vancouver
There is some concern that after the 2010 Olympics a number of jobs related to tourism and hosting of the Games will disappear. Also the forestry industry has been hit hard due to the slump in U.S. housing starts owing to their recession. America traditionally looks to Canada for timber to use in home building.
Signs of Growth in Vancouver
Vancouver’s Highway 1 and Sea To Sky Highway are undergoing a $600 Million facelift. The route leads out of the city and has sometimes been vulnerable to rock falls or landslides, so safety is being improved.
There are three universities, five community colleges and four institutes in Greater Vancouver. Due to increased enrolment there are more funds available and thus more jobs, at every level from administrative assistants, to finance, marketing communications, human resources and labour specialists, etc.
Outlook
The hope is that once the world visits Vancouver and nearby areas for the winter Olympics, they will be so impressed by the city’s beauty, proximity to nature and developed infrastructure that a percentage of them will return to set up businesses or invest in the community. While this may seem like somewhat of an uphill task, you can bet that the city will make a winning effort for growth.