By Brandon Miller
Monster Generation Y Contributing Writer
Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010.
The past twelve months have been tough for Canadians. Sure, unlike our American counterparts, we escaped with a shred of economic competency intact, but the job losses suffered in 2009 are nothing to take lightly. Everybody knows somebody who has been laid off, and if you don’t, you’ve probably been hiding under a rock somewhere. As somebody who came out of graduate school in the middle of the recession, I can personally attest to the type of despondency that comes with hearing the words “hiring freeze” and “restructuring” thrown around time and time again.
The upcoming decade is offering what so many Canadians have lacked this past year: hope. Economic downturns and recessionary tales aside, the Canadian job market is still alive and well. You may have to look harder – and in places where you may not have searched before – but there are opportunities out there. Job board content is up and a new year means new company budgets.
Here are some industries that are hitting an upswing just in time for 2010.
Education
It seems like 2009 has prompted Canadians to consider new career endeavors, as an increasingly large number of adults have headed back to school. Combine these career changers with the already sky-high number of youth enrolling in post-secondary education and you have an industry that is blossoming.
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada reported an enrollment rate that was 38,000 students higher in fall 2009 than fall 2008, so expect this sector to keep booming – at least for the next four years. Not only does Canada need professors and lecturers, but increased enrollment also means more librarians, service workers and administrators.
Technology
Canada’s Economic Action Plan promises big things in the science and technology industry for 2010. And by big things, we’re talking $5 billion, creating jobs for now and in the future. According to Industry Canada, “a project at St. Clair College in Ontario is expected to create 1500 jobs in the province and another 280 across Canada.” The St. Clair project will open up opportunities in Southern Ontario, with the main thrust of the project taking place in Chatham, where the college will build the Chatham College Technology and Trades Addition.
According to the Government of Canada,
construction at the University of Calgary will require the equivalent of 175 full-time workers by the completion of the project in 2010 . The funds and the extra workers will be used to build the Taylor Family Digital Library.
Construction
Another industry that is benefitting from the Economic Action plan, the
manufacturing sector will see a definite increase in jobs in 2010. Take VIA Rail’s $300 million worth of contracts for new infrastructure. Or how about the $200 million the government has promised to improve small harbors throughout Canada, for another example? And of the 1,150 repairs and renovation projects earmarked for federal buildings, only 119 have been completed as-of-yet.
Only A Starting Point
These are three areas where jobs are being created for 2010, but they are no means the only industries holding opportunities for skilled workers. Do your own research and find your own opportunities in your city. Check municipal government Web sites, college/university human resource pages and, of course, Monster.ca. (search jobs)
For more information on Job Creation Partnerships in Canada, visit
Service Canada. Open to the Canadian unemployed, the program aims to help both the community and the participants.
Three tips to take away on your search:
1. Set up job alerts. Monster.ca offers a wonderful Job Alert service. Use it. Many companies even have their own personalized alert service where you enter your search criteria and receive e-mails when new positions become available. It’s maximal information with minimal work.
2. Study, study, study. If you take away one thing from this article it should be the fact that you should be doing your homework. Follow the news. Increased reports on housing means job creation in construction and related sectors. A large technology company winning a new contract means potential employment in the sciences - find out where the company offices are located. Watch employment rates and read the business section and you will be on your way.
3. Stand out. You are a part of Generation Y – younger, more creative, more technologically inclined. Broaden your scope and think outside the box, as we’ve been told Gen Yers excel in this area. List your competitive strengths on your resume. Things you take for granted – like HTML skills or an ability to use Dreamweaver or Flash – are actually huge assets. Play them up.