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Showing posts with label Top Job Thursday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top Job Thursday. Show all posts
There are literally thousands of companies, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Perks are offered to attract and retain employees to the company. However, if you can not mesh with the atmosphere or the people within the company, all of the perks in the world will not get you to stay.
There are tons of websites that illustrate "Top Companies" for Canada or the local area, some people say these sites are biased and people pay to be on them. This blog has published a few of those top company lists. Although these lists have been criticized in the past, they offer some fantastic insight as to what the company has to offer their employees.
You need to understand what you want from a company. Is it about pay? Education? Benefits? Discounts? Hours? Understanding what you want will allow you to enjoy your work experience and allow you to work in one of the top companies.
CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI) just released the results of their latest study that used EMSI’s rich labor market database, which pulls from over 90 national and state employment resources and includes detailed information on employees and self-employed workers, to find the best jobs (that require a bachelor's degree) for 2013. Here are the top 18.
Occupations requiring a bachelor’s degrees that have produced the most jobs post-recession include:
No. 1 Software Developers (Applications and Systems Software)
70,872 jobs added since 2010, 7% growth
No. 2 Accountants and Auditors
37,123 jobs added since 2010, 3% growth
No. 3 Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
31,335 jobs added since 2010, 10% growth
No. 4 Computer Systems Analysts
26,937 jobs added since 2010, 5% growth
No. 5 Human Resources, Training and Labor Relations Specialists
22,773 jobs added since 2010, 5% growth
No. 6 Network and Computer Systems Administrators
18,626 jobs added since 2010, 5% growth
No. 7 Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific)
17,405 jobs added since 2010, 4% growth
No. 8 Information Security Analysts, Web Developers and Computer Network Architects
15,715 jobs added since 2010, 5% growth
No. 9 Mechanical Engineers
13,847 jobs added since 2010, 6% growth
No. 10 Industrial Engineers
12,269 jobs added since 2010, 6% growth
No. 11 Computer Programmers
11,540 jobs added since 2010, 3% growth
No. 12 Financial Analysts
10,016 jobs added since 2010, 4% growth
No. 13 Public Relations Specialists
8,541 jobs added since 2010, 4% growth
No. 14 Logisticians
8,522 jobs added since 2010, 8% growth
No. 15 Database Administrators
7,468 jobs added since 2010, 7% growth
No. 16 Meeting, Convention and Event Planners
7,072 jobs added since 2010, 10% growth
No. 17 Cost Estimators
6,781 jobs added since 2010, 3% growth
No. 18 Personal Financial Advisors
5,212 jobs added since 2010, 3% growth
What careers and industries are in demand? Find out where experts say you can find the opportunities.
It’s gloomy out there — and we’re not talking about the weather. Every day we hear about how hard it is for this or that generation to find good opportunities in today’s competitive job market. Worse yet, experts don’t expect the situation to change much for the next few years.
At the same time, some companies can’t get enough skilled employees to meet their needs, and some sectors anticipate further shortages when the glut of baby boomers do retire. (The declining birth rate won’t help either.) Despite record unemployment levels, many people don’t have the right qualifications to fill the gap.
So where are the opportunities hiding? Experts in Canada and the U.S. point to these top careers for a start.
Information technology
Computer, smart phones, tablets… Technology seems to be everywhere these days so it’s hardly shocking there’s a demand for the people behind the devices and software we use. Canada has a thriving tech industry with many big names (like Google and RIM) as well as startups bringing new innovations to the market. (Deloitte has a list of the top 50 , but that’s only the tip of the iceberg.) Invest in Canada reports that the country is particularly strong in areas like wireless, software and digital media (especially games).
While many areas are vying for the title of “Silicone Valley North”, you don’t have to work in the high tech industry to be part of this trend. Many companies need IT personnel to evaluate, purchase, train and troubleshoot the technology and applications that bring value to their business.
Health care professionals
The “silver tsunami” will fuel demand for health care and health-related services in the coming years, but aging boomers aren’t the only factor. Overall, we’re living longer and more people are living with diseases that were deadly only decades ago. We’re also becoming more proactive about our health — using services and technology to stay ahead of problems.
It isn’t just doctors and nurses who will be in demand: experts say many specialties will be in demand, among them physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dentists and optometrists. To find out more about these careers, check with the professional organization that governs them and schools that offer the training.
Health care management and support staff
Likewise, it isn’t just the people who work directly with patients who are in demand. After all, running clinics, hospitals or health care-related companies requires employees across a variety of departments — including accounting, human resources and marketing.
If you’re looking for a “safe” industry to ply your skills and expertise, this one may be worth a look in the coming years. Not surprisingly, health care is second only to technology on CNNMoneyFortune‘s list of top careers.
Life sciences and biotechnology
Prefer to be on the cutting edge of research and innovation? These industries are predicted to grow thanks to demand for new treatments, new devices, new vaccines and new diagnostic tools. Don’t want to work for “Big Pharma”? Don’t worry: experts say startups will be hiring too.
Of course, the fields aren’t just about medicine. These umbrella terms include careers like biofuels and agriculture — and are a major part of some of Canada’s top industries. Biotech programs are available through colleges and universities across Canada. (Read more about this industry from Health Canada and the Council for Biotechnology Information .)
Engineers
It may not be a profession easily picked up in midlife, but experts say it’s one sector where new graduates can readily find a job in North America. According to a report from Engineers Canada , demand for engineers across many fields (including civic, mechanical, electrical, petroleum and computers) is already strong and set to increase through 2018. (Download a PDF of the report here .) Whether it’s replacing crumbling infrastructure, searching for oil or developing new technology, you’ll find engineers at the helm.
While tuition is often higher for engineering programs than other faculties, experts say it’s a good return on investment. Canadian programs boast a high employment rate within six months of graduation, and starting salaries often range a generous $45,000 to $59,000, according to a survey from TalentEgg.ca .
Industrial skills and trades
Parents used to dream of sending their offspring to university followed by a white-collar job, but the bias against the skilled trades has lead to a shortage of workers. In 2010, experts say there was already a shortage of 50,000 workers in Canada — and this number is expect to rise sharply in the coming decades. Some of Canada’s top industries like food services, automotive and manufacturing rely on the trades.
What about compensation? Contrary to popular belief, many people in the trades earn above average salaries, says Skills Canada — plus they complete their training without the burden of massive student debt. In fact, the government offers grants of up to $4000 for completing an apprenticeship.
If you’re already skilled in one of these areas, be on the look out for teaching opportunities. Colleges are looking to hire skilled instructors, and more high schools are offering courses in the trades. (Some faculties of education offer training programs for people in the trades, and teaching salaries can include credit for years worked in the field.)
For more information on careers in the trades, see Skills Canada , Careersintrades.ca , and the Ellis Chart .
Accounting and finance
Good news for people who are good with numbers: the state of the economy has individuals and companies alike paying more attention to their money. Experts like accountants, financial planners and money managers are needed not just in North America, but also around the world. Forensic accountants — who audit and investigate — and compliance specialists will also be in demand as companies continue to focus on accountability.
Another boon for Canada: our banking industry receives top marks from international organizations. We also get kudos for having some top-notch business schools, though tuition won’t come cheap.
According to CNNMoney, private equity firms are also on the hunt — proving there’s room for opportunities for seasoned veterans too.
Salespeople
Did we mention those economic woes? Companies need income and the people who bring in the clients and the cash will always be needed. (In fact, some experts say a career in sales is as close to being a recession-proof job as we get!) If you’ve got the skills and charisma, this arena can be quite lucrative when commissions and cash incentives are involved.
What if your interests turn to retail instead? Those big discount retail chains are where to look, says CNNMoney. As they continue to grow, they’re reportedly looking for managers as well as customer service staff and clerks.
Of course, not everyone is interested in (or suitable for) careers in these sectors, and no one really knows what’s going to happen in the future. Demand can also vary according to location — as can the expected salary and compensation.
What’s the take home lesson? Regardless of where your interests and ambitions lie, experts recommend doing some research before diving in.
25 Well-Paying Jobs that Most People Overlook (and Why)
(PART 2)
Here are certain jobs that nobody dreams of doing when they grow up. “Somebody’s gotta do it”, but that doesn’t stop people from praying that “someone” won’t be them. What’s surprising, however, is how much money some of these stigmatized jobs actually pay people who man up and do them. So if you’re on the fence about where your financial future is headed, stop and consider any of the shockingly lucrative jobs that follow.
[NOTE: We realize that there are, technically, people who do want these jobs. The point is to spotlight jobs with stigmas attached to them that pay more than the typical person would think.]
12. Soldier
The U.S. military is suffering one of its biggest recruitment crunches ever, in spite of more money and higher perks people who join. According to MSN, new volunteers are eligible to collect sign-up bonuses of $10,000 (up from $8,000 previously), while soldiers with college aspirations will find up to $70,000 waiting for them at the end of their term. Combine that with PX privileges and the potential for life-long pension and health insurance, and the military might not seem like such a raw deal, but if you don’t live long enough to enjoy that money, or have to discard your principles, it’s simply not worth it for most people.
11. Construction Worker
The life of a construction worker is a constant disaster waiting to happen. Whether you are working beside highway traffic, laying out a bridge across a huge body of water or operating equipment that could saw off a human limb, the threat of danger is always present. When you consider that construction workers do all of this year round, in blazing sun or bone-chilling cold, it’s not difficult to see why people shy away from such work. It does, however, offer an average starting salary of $49,517, according to PayScale.com.
10. Toll booth collector
According to Businessweek’s article “Worst Jobs With The Best Pay”, toll booth collectors earn an average salar of $45,000. If you’re not scared off by the prospect of spending your night in a booth smaller than a jail cell as you take money from people passing through to somewhere fun, it’s not a bad living. BusinessWeek also notes that toll collectors are union employees with good benefits packages and overtime pay that would make non-union workers salivate with jealousy.
9. Highway patrol worker
Most people don’t relish the prospect of patrolling the interstate during early morning hours, but the highway patrol is a pretty decent-paying gig. Salary.com lists the median expected salary for a highway patrol officer at $43,112 with room for advancement. If you can withstand being sworn at and despised by every rush-hour motorist on the road, this might be worth looking into.
8. Plumber
Plumbing the shadowy depths of a stranger’s toilet bowl may not be the stuff dreams are made of, but it might be the path to a decent-sized bank account. The average salary for a journeyman plumber is $41,000 per year, according to Indeed.com’s estimates. This is just a starting point, however, as plumbers are known to charge more and more as they become known and referred around their local area.
7. Hazmat worker
It is the job of hazardous materials workers to neutralize and otherwise deal with dangerous substances or outbreaks. In a typical day, a hazmat worker might find himself handling asbestos, spent oil or fuel, lead-based paint, transmission fluid, mold, toxins, contaminated soil or even radioactive waste. All of this must be dealt with by following strict, federal government mandated regulations and procedures, not to mention intense scrutiny from anyone who happens to be nearby. Beginning hazmat workers can expect to earn roughly $40,000 per year (more in heavily populated metro areas like New York City.)
6. Sports agent
Contrary to popular myth, the life of a beginning sports agent is almost nothing like “Jerry McGuire”. Instead, the book “License To Deal” tells a much different story. Tommy Tanzer, a now-prominent agent, got his start by turning his van into a mobile home and going into debt in order to travel and sign players. Another agent is said to have spent his early days backpacking through South America, sleeping in tents while attempting to sign players from that area. If you are willing to endure this type of struggle, who knows? You just might hang around long enough to negotiate multi-million dollar contracts for sports megastars.
5. Unionized deli clerk
Most people don’t use the words “deli clerk” and “high paying” in the same sentence, but with a little persistence, it can be done. Because the larger grocery chains are heavily unionized, deli clerks who work at those stores are not only guaranteed annual raises, but also constant employment. As anyone who has ever worked at a deli knows, unions will put their weight behind even the most lazy, unproductive employees to ensure that they are not fired. By sticking around long enough, you can eventually take home as much as $40,000 a year for little more than standing in front of a slicer and cutting meat.
4. Embalmer
If you’re interested in job opportunities that pay $34,000 and up, requiring no more than a high school diploma and a training course, the embalming of dead people might be right up your alley! While you will need a license, embalming is a textbook example of a job the world will always need that most people will not want. This walks readers through both the nature of the work and the process of actually getting into the field.
3. Dog walker
Dogs can be scary enough without putting several of them on leashes and hoping they’ll behave for a complete stranger as you walk them around town. However, the undesirability of the job is precisely what makes it high-paying. In a busy metro area, a reputable dog walker can rake it in to the tune of $50 per hour. As one article points out, “that’s more than the average salary of a mid-level manager.”
2. Lab rat
Every day, research labs across the nation are offering money to people who agree to have new drugs or procedures tested on them. If you are willing to ingest new and unproven substances into your bloodstream, there’s virtually no end to the money you can bring in! Simply peruse the Sunday classified ads or keep your eyes peeled for “Test Subjects Wanted” ads on the community bulletin board and you can be taking home as much as $3,000 or more per month.
1. Proctologist
Known ubiquitously as “the butt doctor”, a proctologist is charged with diagnosing and treating problems with the rectum or anus. Using your trusty proctoscope, you will examine patients for such problems as anal tears, fecal incontinence, severe constipation, and even (in rare cases) anal cancer. You will be more or less despised by your patients, but there’s a $226,000/yr salary at the end of the tunnel if you manage to stick with it for a couple years!
25 Well-Paying Jobs that Most People Overlook (and Why)
(spread out over 2 week period, check next Thursday for the next installment)
Here are certain jobs that nobody dreams of doing when they grow up. “Somebody’s gotta do it”, but that doesn’t stop people from praying that “someone” won’t be them. What’s surprising, however, is how much money some of these stigmatized jobs actually pay people who man up and do them. So if you’re on the fence about where your financial future is headed, stop and consider any of the shockingly lucrative jobs that follow.
[NOTE: We realize that there are, technically, people who do want these jobs. The point is to spotlight jobs with stigmas attached to them that pay more than the typical person would think.]
25. Crab fisherman
Featured on the Discovery Channel’s hit TV series “Deadliest Catch”, the job of crab fisherman is often called the most dangerous in America. Fishing in frigid Alaskan waters, these brave spirits weather stormy seas, below-freezing temperatures, and the heartache of being away from home for months. The short crab season makes it imperative that they catch as many crabs as possible during that short window. However, this can become astonishingly lucrative once one gets the hang of of it. According to one estimate, even a somewhat experienced crab fisherman can catch as many as $50,000 worth of crabs in an 8 week period.
24. Gastroenterologist
Gastroenterologists are seen by almost every patient they treat as a necessary evil. This is unlikely to change, as virtually no one gets excited about going in for a colonoscopy or an invasive prostate exam. Worse yet, almost all of a gastroenterologist’s time is spent performing these same, routine, unchanging procedures that everyone dreads having. The only saving grace appears to be the eye-popping salary. According to Salary.com, a gastroenterologist can earn as much as $269,500 per year.
23. Podiatrist
Podiatry is another lucrative yet otherwise unappealing wing of medicine available to the open-minded job seeker. While Salary.com clocks the annual earnings potential of a podiatrist at $149,527, it will come at a steep price. Should you undertake this career, your days will be spent on such enthralling, rewarding tasks as dealing with ingrown toenails, bunions, and ulcers. As if that weren’t enough, you will also be snickered at by the elite “real doctors” (ie, those with MD degrees) while you toil away as a lowly DPM (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine.)
22. Accountant
Often stereotyped as “bean counters”, the accountant is seen as the prototypical “boring” person. Spending the workday digging through hordes of numbers, in a cramped office, under buzzing flourescent lights is just not what most people bargained for. Fortunately, this creates a massive opportunity for those who don’t mind such things! If you’re the kind of person who loves numbers and the quiet peace of being left alone, accounting could be a great fit. The average starting salary for an accountant is roughly $41,000, while the best and most experienced are known to pull down salaries of $200,000 or more.
21. Commissioned salesperson
90% of the job-seeking public have zero interest in jobs without a base salary. “Why would I work somewhere that doesn’t even guarantee me a paycheck?” is the common refrain. However, those who are bold and confident enough to take on a commissioned sales job can make an extremely comfortable living by doing so. The most successful salespeople at car dealerships, electronics stores, and investment banks, for example, regularly drum up $100,000 or more per year in commission.
20. IT Employee
The term “IT employee” is a broad catch-all that encompasses programmers, network administrators, database engineers, and virtually any other job function pertaining to the use of technology. The demand for those skills has steadily risen since the 90′s and there seems to be no end in sight! Fortunately, there may not be as much competition for these jobs as you might think. Despite the average $103,400 salary, many people simply do not want to spend the day in an office cubicle.
19. Roughneck
For an average salary of $46,867, a roughneck can look forward to 12 hour days spent beneath an enormous oil drilling rig. There, they will find the work environment so noisy that they only communicate using hand signals, the air filled with swirling toxins and chemicals, and the most dangerous, backbreaking labor saved especially for them. A typical roughneck might find himself changing scalding hot drill pits or connecting new sections of pipe to one another. Those who can prove themselves capable of these tasks can rise to earn as much as $100,000 for specialized “supervisor” positions.
18. Crop duster pilot
Most people get their pilot’s license to realize their lifelong dreams of taking to the air and soaring high above the lowly ground below. Crop duster pilots, on the other hand, are a slightly different breed. Instead of cruising through the clouds, a crop duster pilot must skillfully navigate his small craft at a dangerously low level, making sure to avoid power lines and fence posts along the way. If he can survive this and continued exposure to toxic chemicals, an experienced crop duster can rake in up to $80,000 per year
17. Iraq private security contractor
“Private security” makes most people think of the rent-a-cops who used to bother them as kids at the local shopping mall. In Iraq, however, the job description takes on a totally different (and dangerous) meaning. As a private security contractor in that area, people are literally asked to shield traveling diplomats and politicians from hostile enemy fire. And despite hundreds of private contractor deaths since the beginning of combat actions, people are still signing up in droves to collect the $10,000 per month fees. If you are willing to become a human shield to make a decent living for a while, this could be the opportunity you have been waiting for!
16. Trash collector
Being a trash man is a “somebody’s gotta do it” job if ever there was one, but depending on where you live, it can be a very high-paying gig. WikiAnswers.com clocks the starting salary of a New York City trash collector at a very respectable $80,000. The salary seems to decline the further south you go, bottoming out at $35,000 in Pensacola, Florida. Still, $35,000 right off the bat is nothing to sneeze at for emptying trash cans into a big truck.
15. Truck driver
Driving a truck might be the only job on this list that is actually proven to shave 10-15 years the average male’s life. The combination of constant driving, sleep deprivation, and fatty convenience foods take a hefty toll on a truck driver’s body and mind alike. The upside is the pay and job security. The average truck driver earns $43,200 without the need for a college degree or extensive training. As drivers become more experienced and establish good safety records, salaries as high as $85,000 are possible.
14. Crime scene cleaner
While the hit show “CSI” has kindled interest in this career path, serious potential applicants should know a few more things about their “dream field.” In addition to mopping up blood, the day of a crime scene cleaner can also include ripping up carpet and floorboards, working in extremely tight spaces, and unearthing bodily fluids and evidence from asbestos-filled buildings. Crime scene cleaners who are lucky enough to get called into a drug lab will get the extra joy of gingerly handling combustible chemicals and compounds while they strive to do their jobs. If none of this phases you, however, an average salary of $50,400 is yours for the taking.
13. Sewer inspector
The unpleasant nature of this job should need no explaining, but suffice it to say that sewer inspectors should expect to work in dark, damp, cramped spaces filled with rats, cockroaches, and a never-ending flood of human refuse. It is through this maze of filth that sewer inspectors crawl in efforts to find and repair cracked, clogged pipes or passageways. While the starting salary for this position is not very high ($34,960), salaries as high as $61,000 have been doled out to people who are brave enough to stick with it and become skilled.
As Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2012 evolve steadily toward sustainability, there are remarkable bursts of creativity along the way. Initiatives such as the YMCA of Greater Toronto attaching electrical generators to its exercise bikes or the Town of Ladysmith, B.C., changing its building code to encourage solar hot water systems demonstrate an innovative approach to becoming ever greener.
Richard Yerema, managing editor of Mediacorp Canada, notes that “once organizations venture down the portage of sustainability, it simply becomes how they operate and plan to operate in the future.”
Top Employers
Bayer Inc., Toronto. Pharmaceutical manufacturing; 704 employees. Constructed 10,000 square feet of green roof space at head office.
BC Hydro, Vancouver. Hydroelectric power generation: 5,911 employees. Has more than 300 Green Team members who volunteer at locations across the province.
BC Public Service, Victoria. Government support; 25,042 employees. Invests in Web-conferencing technologies with more than 130 equipped sites available for employees across the province, resulting in a significant decrease in travel-related emissions.
Calgary Laboratory Services, Calgary. Medical laboratories; 989 employees. Allows employees to use their flexible spending benefits toward the purchase of environmental products and services.
Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, Burnaby, B.C. Professional organizations; 148 employees. The kitchen area sinks feature in-line filtration systems to lessen the need for disposable plastic water bottles.
Compass Group Canada, Mississauga, Ont. Food service contractors; 11,091 employees. Has become a major purchaser of Fair Trade Certified coffee.
Corus Entertainment Inc., Toronto. Television broadcasting; 1,478 employees. Every month, the company receives waste diversion reports focused on carbon dioxide emissions, water conservation as well as waste and recycling efforts.
Enbridge Inc., Calgary. Natural gas distribution; 4,224 employees. Has invested in alternative energy generation, including six wind farm projects in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, an 80 megawatt solar array in Sarnia, Ont., and a geothermal power facility in Oregon.
Enmax Corp., Calgary. Electric power distribution; 1,655 employees. Encourages employees to install alternative energy systems in their homes through an eco-rebate program.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Toronto. Hotels; 8,612 employees. Implements energy and water conservation policies at properties worldwide.
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Toronto. Lawyers; 1,232 employees. Participates in Pollution Probe’s Clean Air Commute campaign, which encourages employees to walk, bike, telecommute or take public transit to work.
Georgian College, Barrie, Ont. Colleges and universities; 744 employees. Has implemented aggressive strategies to reduce use of paper.
Hewlett-Packard Canada Co., Mississauga, Ont. Electronic computer manufacturing; 7,100 employees. Encourages employees to leave their cars at home by staying home themselves through a long-standing commitment to telecommuting.
Home Depot Canada, Toronto. Hardware stores; 13,079 employees. Has more than 2,400 environmentally responsible product choices for its customers through its Eco Options program.
Hydro Ottawa Ltd., Ottawa. Electric power distribution; 604 employees. Has an in-house conservation team that heads out into the community to spread the conservation word.
IKEA Canada LP, Burlington, Ont. Home furnishings stores; 1,540 employees. Maintains recycling depots at Canadian store locations where customers can drop off compact fluorescent light bulbs, halogen bulbs and old batteries free of charge.
Information Services Corp., Regina. Title abstract and settlement offices; 322 employees. Each board member is equipped with a “Board Book,” a smart tablet which has access to all board materials electronically, significantly reducing the amount of paper typically used.
KPMG LLP, Toronto. Offices of certified public accountants; 5,413 employees. KPMG’s Global Green Initiative commits the firm to reduce its international carbon footprint by 25 per cent (compared to 2007) through energy conservation and use of renewable energy.
Ladysmith, Town of, British Columbia. Legislative bodies; 49 employees. Is currently developing a Community Energy Plan designed to reduce long-term energy consumption.
Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Brampton, Ont. Supermarkets and grocery stores; 30,472 employees. Recently installed rooftop solar panel arrays on two store locations in Ontario as part of the province’s feed-in-tariff program.
LoyaltyOne Inc., Toronto. Marketing consulting services; 1,159 employees. Has formally monitored its carbon footprint since 2008.
Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg. Hydroelectric power generation; 5,959 employees. Is greening its fleet through the purchase of 28 hybrid vehicles for employees to use for business purposes.
McGill University Health Centre, Montreal. General medical and surgical hospitals; 11,500 employees. Employees have organized departmental employee-led green teams, such as the “Nursing Green Team” to help champion waste reduction and recycling initiatives.
Mountain Equipment Co-op, Vancouver. Sporting goods stores; 629 employees. Each retail location offers secure bicycle storage and showers to encourage its employees to ride their bikes to work.
National Capital Commission, Ottawa. Urban planning and community and rural development; 495 employees. Its “Back to the Tap” program encourages the reduction of plastic water bottles used by employees and visitors.
Nature’s Path Foods Inc., Richmond, B.C. Breakfast cereal manufacturing; 129 employees. Is working toward 99 per cent waste diversion from the landfill by 2014 and has already achieved diversion rates ranging from 84 to 93 per cent.
Ontario Public Service, Toronto. Government support; 65,423 employees. Maintains a unique re-use and re-deployment program for everything from furniture to computers to paper to heavy machinery to laboratory equipment.
Ottawa, City of. Legislative bodies, 11,931 employees. Implemented a “Green Building Policy for the Construction of Corporate Buildings.”
Perkins+Will Canada Corp., Vancouver. Architectural services; 52 employees. Has committed itself to the “2030 Challenge,” pledging that all of its projects will be designed as carbon neutral by the year 2030.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Toronto. Certified public accountants; 6,255 employees. Sponsors a national “Green Week” to promote environmental awareness both at the workplace and at home.
Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver. General medical and surgical hospitals; 7,181 employees. Has implemented a series of environmental initiatives in response to employee feedback.
Red River College, Winnipeg. Colleges, universities and professional schools; 1,246 employees. Operates a sophisticated biodiesel processing facility that converts used kitchen oil from its Food Services and Culinary Arts program, and blends it with diesel fuel to power the college’s maintenance vehicles.
Rescan Environmental Services Ltd., Vancouver. Environmental consulting; 132 employees. Employee-led committee is working toward the goal of diverting 95 per cent of its in-house waste from the landfill.
Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto. Banking; 53,100 employees. Introduced a new “Responsible Procurement Policy” that incorporates environmental and social considerations into all purchases made by the bank.
SAS Institute (Canada) Inc., Toronto. Computer programming; 240 employees. Constructed the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certified commercial office building in Canada.
SaskTel, Regina, Telecommunications carriers; 3,190 employees. Launched the “Switch Off and Save” campaign on Earth Day 2008 to encourage employees to switch off all unnecessary electronics, vehicles and gas heaters.
Siemens Canada Ltd., Burlington, Ont. Engineering, 4,770 employees. Employees recently volunteered their time to repair used company laptops and donated more than 100 refurbished units to a local charitable organization.
Sodexo Canada Ltd., Burlington, Ont. Food service contractors; 10,091 employees. Has committed to sourcing local, seasonal or sustainably grown and raised food products for its food service operations.
Stantec Consulting Ltd., Edmonton. Engineering; 5,371 employees. Purchases paper with post-consumer recycled content for copier paper and printed materials.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto. Hospitals; 4,922 employees. Has partnered with the “Smart Commute” program creating an online carpool service to make it easier for employees to find a workable carpool.
Symcor Inc., Mississauga, Ont. Financial processing; 2,589 employees. Encourages employee carpooling by providing reserved parking spaces for those who carpool and an intranet portal to help employees find a carpool group.
Toronto-Dominion Bank, Toronto. Banking; 41,360 employees. Was the first Canadian bank to hire a Chief Environment Officer.
Telus Corp., Vancouver. Wired telecommunications carriers; 23,400 employees. Aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent and total energy consumption by 10 per cent by the year 2020.
Toronto Hydro Corp., Toronto. Electric power distribution; 1,729 employees. Maintains one of the city’s first solar panel arrays at its head office, which features more than 189 panels.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc., Cambridge, Ont., Automobile manufacturing; 6,937 employees. Strongly supports Earth Day every year, which is a month-long event at the company.
Union Gas Ltd., Chatham-Kent, Ont. Natural gas distribution; 2,155 employees. By simply introducing two-sided printing as a default across its operations, the company has reduced its paper usage by more than 14 per cent from 2009 to 2010.
University of Alberta, Edmonton. Colleges, universities and professional schools; 8,340 employees. Recently launched the “ecoREP” program to reach out to employees, faculty and students to become sustainability champions.
University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Colleges, universities and professional schools; 10,612 employees. Encourages students to reduce waste and conserve water and energy through its “Sustainability in Rez” program.
University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George. Colleges, universities and professional schools; 594 employees. Recently opened a Green University Centre staffed by two full-time employees who work on green initiatives on campus.
University of Toronto. Colleges and universities; 8,458 employees. Operates a unique “Swap Shop” at its St. George campus where members of the university community can drop off and pick up items such as furniture and office equipment.
Vancouver City Savings Credit Union (Vancity), Vancouver. Credit unions; 1,778 employees. Strongly supports annual “Bike to Work Week” with employees competing against other workplaces for the most bike commutes, hours logged and kilometres travelled.
Vancouver, City of. Legislative bodies; 6,858 employees. Recently launched a “Green Condo Retrofit Pilot” project that provides low interest and long-term loans to condo associations for major energy saving renovations.
Veridian Corp., Ajax, Ont. Electric power distribution; 215 employees. Provides employees with interest-free loans for the purchase of energy-efficient appliances for their homes.
Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler, B.C. Hotels and motels; 2,747 employees. Operates a new $32-million micro-hydroelectric plant inside the ski area that produces enough clean electricity for its entire operations.
YMCA of Greater Toronto, Toronto. Individual and family services; 1,286 employees. Maintains a green fund that is dedicated to funding environmentally beneficial initiatives.
3M Canada Co., London. Manufacturing; 1,860 full-time employees. Provides a quiet room for meditation and reflection.
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Inc. (APTN), Winnipeg. Television broadcasting; 135 employees. Offers subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation.
Accenture Plc, Toronto. Computer programming and consulting; 3,793 employees. Offers employee referral bonuses up to $6,000.
Agrium Inc., Calgary. Fertilizer manufacturing; 2,251 employees. Manages a popular engineer-in-training program.
Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Boyle, Alta. Pulp mills; 450 employees. Offers new employees up to four weeks of paid vacation.
AMEC Americas Ltd., Oakville, Ont. Engineering services; 7,200 employees. Offers referral bonuses for some positions of up to $5,000.
Bank of Canada, Ottawa. Banking; 1,176 employees. Offers a defined benefit pension plan.
Bayer Inc., Toronto. Pharmaceutical manufacturing; 702 employees. Provides a subsidy up to $15,000 for in-vitro fertilization when needed.
BC Public Service, Victoria. Government support; 26,201 employees. Manages an academic scholarship program for children of employees.
Bennett Jones LLP, Calgary. Lawyers; 821 employees. Offers compassionate leave top-up payments of 100 per cent of salary for one week.
Bank of Montreal, Toronto. Banking; 28,686 employees. Offers retirement planning assistance and phased-in retirement work options.
Bombardier Inc., Montreal. Aircraft manufacturing; 24,147 employees. Offers paid internship opportunities for new graduates and younger employees.
Business Development Bank of Canada, Montreal. Banking; 1,958 employees. Flexible health plan offers employees the option of purchasing additional vacation days.
Cameco Corp., Saskatoon. Uranium mining; 3,033 employees. Offers an onsite fully equipped fitness facility at head office.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Toronto. Commercial banking; 33,965 employees. Offers referral and year-end bonuses.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Ottawa. National security; 3,311 employees. Provides maternity and parental leave top-up payments for new mothers up to 93 per cent of salary for 52 weeks.
Carswell, a division of Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd., Toronto. Book publishing; 984 employees. Manages a two-year leadership program to help promote from within.
Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. Child and youth services; 581 employees. Offers the option to take unpaid full- and part-time educational leaves of absence.
Cementation Canada Inc., North Bay, Ont. Mine contracting and engineering; 1,034 employees. Added more than 50 new positions in Canada last year.
Ceridian Canada Ltd., Winnipeg. Payroll services; 1,297 employees. Offers formal mentoring, in-house and online training and career planning services.
Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, Burnaby, B.C. Professional organizations; 144 employees. Transit subsidy available for ride-share programs.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Toronto. Professional organizations; 285 employees. Provides flexible work arrangements for new mothers returning to work.
Dalhousie University, Halifax. Colleges and universities; 3,328 employees. Offers a health benefits plan that extends into employees’ retirement years.
DIALOG, Vancouver. Architectural and engineering Services; 540 employees. Provides year-end bonuses for some employees.
Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., Yellowknife. Mining; 1,171 employees. Recognized for its aboriginal development program in partnership with SAIT Polytechnic.
Digital Extremes Ltd., London, Ont. Computer programming; 182 employees. Two full-time chefs prepare free healthy meals daily for staff.
EllisDon Corp., Mississauga, Ont. Building construction; 1,164 employees. Starts new employees with three weeks of paid vacation.
Enbridge Inc., Calgary. Natural gas distribution; 4,681 employees. Partners with the University of Calgary to provide mentoring to undergraduates.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Toronto. Hotels; 8,705 employees. Committed to environmental stewardship through its energy and water conservation policies.
General Motors of Canada Ltd., Oshawa, Ont. Motor vehicle manufacturing; 10,317 employees. Provides generous subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation.
Georgian College, Barrie, Ont. Colleges and universities; 791 employees. Recently opened a new Health and Wellness building.
Goldcorp Inc., Vancouver. Gold mining; 2,290 employees. Offers paid time off during the holiday season.
Golder Associates Ltd., Calgary. Engineering services; 2,995 employees. Manages an international employee exchange program.
Great Little Box Co. Ltd., Richmond, B.C. Box manufacturing; 213 employees. Encourages employees to save for retirement through matching RRSP contributions.
Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. Hospitals; 4,529 employees. Offers in-house and online training programs.
HP Advanced Solutions Inc., Victoria. Computer system design; 403 employees. Considers previous work experience for vacation entitlements.
ISM Canada, Regina. Computer programming; 821 employees. Offers discounts on home computer equipment.
Ledcor Group of Companies, Vancouver. Building construction; 6,988 employees. Offers formal mentoring for young workers new to the construction industry.
Loblaw Cos. Ltd., Brampton, Ont. Supermarkets; 29,725 employees. Subsidizes memberships to a fully equipped onsite fitness centre.
Manitoba Hydro, Winnipeg. Hydroelectric power generation; 5,980 employees. Recently appointed a northern aboriginal employee counsellor.
Manitoba Lotteries Corp., Winnipeg. Gambling; 1,307 employees. Long-serving employees receive up to six weeks of paid vacation.
Manulife Financial Corp., Toronto. Life insurance; 10,999 employees. Located amidst a beautiful seven-acre garden oasis in downtown Toronto.
Mars Canada Inc., Bolton, Ont. Confectionery manufacturing; 474 employees. Offers reserved car parking for hybrid vehicles at head office.
Medtronic of Canada Ltd., Brampton, Ont. Medical apparatus manufacturing; 437 employees. New LEED certified head office offers environmentally friendly features.
Molson Coors Canada, Montreal. Breweries; 2,898 employees. Provides a fitness centre and cafeteria with subsidized meals.
Monsanto Canada Inc., Winnipeg. Agricultural biotechnology; 275 employees. Encourages employee development with tuition subsidies to $10,000.
National Ballet of Canada, Toronto. Dance company; 216 employees. Features an onsite cafeteria, with healthy and special diet menus.
National Energy Board, Calgary. Oil, gas and electric utility regulation; 363 employees. Offers a paid education leave program for employees completing work-related courses at outside institutions.
Northwest Territories, Government of the, Yellowknife. Government support; 5,862 employees. Offers compassionate leave top-up payments for care of a loved one to 100 per cent of salary for seven weeks.
Nuance Communications Canada Inc., Montreal. Software publishers; 522 employees. Offers a share purchase plan and profit-sharing to all employees.
OpenText Corp., Waterloo, Ont. Computer programming; 1,331 employees. Offers signing bonuses for some positions and referral bonuses.
Ottawa, City of. Legislative bodies, 12,103 employees. Offers subsidies for tuition and professional accreditation and career planning services.
Pfizer Canada Inc., Kirkland, Que. Pharmaceutical manufacturing; 2,726 employees. Offers an onsite daycare centre for new mothers.
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. Fertilizer manufacturing; 2,765 employees. Manages an academic scholarship program for children of employees.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Toronto. Certified public accountants; 6,527 employees. Hosts a national PwC hockey tournament with office teams.
Procter & Gamble Inc., Toronto. Toiletry product manufacturing; 2,012 employees. Offers health benefits coverage into retirement, with no age limit.
Rescan Environmental Services Ltd., Vancouver. Environmental consulting; 146 employees. Partners with UBC’s Sauder School of Business in developing a management development program.
SAS Institute (Canada) Inc., Toronto. Computer programming; 269 employees. Features an onsite fully equipped fitness facility with free membership.
Saskatchewan Government Insurance, Regina. Insurance carriers; 1,902 employees. Offers an informal phased-in retirement program.
SaskTel, Regina. Telecommunications; 3,131 employees. Employees and retirees volunteer tens of thousands of hours every year to community projects.
Shaw Communications Inc., Calgary. Communications; 12,666 employees. Offers subsidies for job-related courses and professional accreditation.
Shell Canada Ltd., Calgary. Petroleum and gas extraction; 7,825 employees. Provides a meditation and reflection centre.
Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., Toronto. Drug stores;1,323 employees. Offers referral bonuses up to $3,000.
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C. Colleges and universities; 2,752 employees. Manages an onsite daycare facility.
Solvera Solutions, Regina. Computer programming; 130 employees. Offers personal paid days off.
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ont. Hospitals; 2,706 employees. Outreach program directs medical personnel, supplies and equipment to countries in need.
Stryker Canada Inc., Hamilton, Ont. Surgical and medical products; 213 employees. Offers year-end performance bonuses.
Suncor Energy Inc., Calgary. Petroleum and natural gas; 12,897 employees. Offers more than 10 personal paid days off taken at the employees’ discretion.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto. Hospitals; 5,208 employees. Offers fertility drug treatments through its health benefits plan.
Toronto-Dominion Bank, Toronto. Banking; 43,850 employees. Operates an in-house rotational work program for women returning to work.
Technip Canada Ltd., St. John’s. Engineering services; 124 employees. Offers a range of alternative work arrangements.
Telus Corp., Vancouver, B.C. Telecommunications; 24,443 employees. Hosts an annual day of service to encourage employee volunteerism.
Toronto Hydro Corp., Toronto. Electric power distribution; 1,742 employees. Employees can apply for an unpaid leave of absence for up to one year.
Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto. Motion pictures; 149 employees. Offers internship opportunities and in-house training programs.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc., Cambridge, Ont. Automobile manufacturing; 7,024 employees. Offers generous discounts for the lease or purchase of new vehicles.
Trican Well Service Ltd., Calgary. Support for oil and gas operations; 2,395 employees. Offers profit-sharing and a share purchase plan available to all employees.
Union Gas Ltd., Chatham-Kent, Ont. Natural gas distribution; 2,192 employees. New employees start at three weeks of paid vacation.
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton and Saint John. Colleges and universities; 1,782 employees. Offers parental leave top-up payments to new fathers or adoptive parents up to 95 per cent of salary for 17 weeks.
University of Toronto. Colleges and universities; 8,485 employees. Manages onsite daycare facilities at each campus location.
Vancouver City Savings Credit Union, Vancouver. Credit unions; 1,836 employees. Recently added a rooftop garden managed entirely by volunteer employees.
Vancouver Island Health Authority, Victoria. Hospitals; 8,098 employees. Offers an onsite co-operatively run fitness facility.
Vancouver, City of. Legislative bodies; 6,898 employees. Depending upon the position, offers flexible hours and an earned days-off program.
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd., Vancouver. Sawmills; 4,931 employees. Offers a share purchase plan option to all employees.
WestJet Airlines Ltd., Calgary. Air transportation; 5,806 employees. Donated more than 4,790 flights to charitable initiatives last year.
Winnipeg Airports Authority Inc., Winnipeg. Airport operation; 150 employees. Provides discounts at airport restaurants and retail outlets.
Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, Halifax. Human resource programs; 382 employees. Offers retirement planning workshops.
World Vision Canada, Mississauga, Ont. Social advocacy; 442 employees. Provides employees with the opportunity to visit locations where World Vision operates.
Xerox Canada Inc., Toronto. Computer manufacturing; 3,588 employees. Encourages ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies up to $6,000.
Yellow Pages Group Co., Verdun, Que. Directory publishers; 2,761 employees. Added more than 280 new positions last year.
Struggling to find a job? If you’re an accountant, computer systems analyst or event coordinator, there's a good chance your luck will change in 2013.
These three professions are among the best jobs that require a bachelor's degree for 2013, according to a new study by CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI).
The study used EMSI’s rich labor market database, which pulls from over 90 national and state employment resources and includes detailed information on employees and self-employed workers, to find the 18 top jobs for 2013, based on the occupations with the most jobs added since 2010.
The following careers are in high demand and pay big salaries If you want a good salary and recruiters fighting over you, you'd be smart to take up one of these careers.
Out of more than 600 jobs tracked by Statistics Canada, the following 10 professions had the best combination of high wages and employment growth over the past five years. For each one, we'll tell you the median salary, how high your salary can go, the training you need to get the job and more.
10. Economist
Median Salary: $75,565
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 22%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 24%
Economists analyze, forecast and advise on all things related to money, from finance and commodities to trade and industry.
Money: Compensation for Canadian economists ranges from $35,000 to $150,000 and up. Those in the lucrative arena of investment banking can earn $300,000 or more—but at a price. “Some young economists get starry-eyed about the income scales in investment banking,” says Craig Alexander, chief economist of TD Bank. “But you’re going to have a sharply lower quality of life.” Public-sector economists generally get paid less than those in banks.
Opportunity: An era of fiscal austerity in the public sector can be a boon for economics employment there, as federal and provincial departments such as Finance, Industry, Foreign Affairs and the Bank of Canada seek analysts who can work the data. In the 1990s, many companies began outsourcing economics work to the banks, so applied economics jobs in the private sphere is now mostly found in financial and insurance firms.
Training: A BA in economics can open doors in general business, but it’s not enough to get into the economics field. For a job with Statistics Canada, for example, you need a graduate degree, and a career in academia will require a PhD.
What it’s like: Many public-sector jobs have standard eight-hour days, while in the private sector it is common to work 10 hours or more. And in investment banking? “You start at 4:30 a.m. and take the 6:30 p.m. train home. Then, at 8 p.m. you have a conference call,” Alexander says. Successful economists are those who follow their passions, whether it be the environment or education, and use that to direct their careers.
9. Transport Manager
Median Salary: $70,720
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 35%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 13%
As a transport manager, you supervise the day-to-day activities of drivers—it could be trucking, buses, deliveries, taxis or public transit. Or you might be the one who controls subway trains by manning signals and operating track switches. You work for motor-transport companies or transit authorities.
Money: Starting pay for a supervisor in 2011 was between $17.30 and $40 an hour, according to the Government of Alberta. Top earners made around $60, and 44% of employees make $50,000 a year or more. Depending on where you live, a high-earning trucking supervisor could earn as much as $120,000 a year. In Alberta, where companies compete with the oilsands for workers, wages are higher.
Opportunity: Supervisory jobs at transport firms are plentiful in every province and territory, but there are more in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.
Training: Transport managers don’t need a degree or diploma (although 44% do have some post-secondary schooling). More important is having experience in transportation as a driver. Who gets the top jobs? “People who have great communication skills, who make decisions quickly, are the kind of people who move up to supervisor roles,” says Wayne Pederson, who runs a trucking company.
What it’s like: “You might start at 6 a.m., and it’s definitely a 12 hour day,” says Pederson. Supervisors spend much of the day problem-solving. Challenges include rescheduling shipments and dealing with equipment breakdowns, bad weather or accidents.
8. Lawyer
Median Salary: $79,997
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 34%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 14%
As a lawyer, you’ll advise and represent people or organizations by interpreting Canadian law. But you’ll rack up lots of student loans first: after a four-year BA, you must invest in three years of law school, then spend a year articling before taking the bar exam. Within seven years at a firm you may be eligible for income partnership and eventually full partnership.
Money: “Class-action lawyers can get huge numbers when they hit, but big gulfs when they don’t. Successful ones combine it with something certain, like litigation or personal injury,” says Warren Smith of recruiting firm The Counsel Network. Smith’s company found that in-house corporate counsel earned an average base salary of $146,000, about 20% more than government positions. The highest wages are in the energy sector, and in Calgary and Toronto.
Opportunity: While some in the industry are concerned the 2009 slowdown may lead businesses to scale back on lawyers, Smith says companies will need lawyers as long as they’re going to try new things. “Clients go to a law firm because they don’t have answers. They have to get them from someone who has spent 20 years thinking about it.” Specializations in demand include mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property.
What it’s like: With an average retirement age of 78, this is a profession for people who love the work. “It’s an intellectual challenge,” says Emily MacKinnon, a recent UBC graduate who is set to article at the Supreme Court of Canada. “Life is fluid, and you’re trying to apply this framework to it.”
7. Construction Manager
Median Salary: $70,179
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 38%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 17%
Construction managers are responsible for soup-to-nuts planning, estimating, negotiating and overseeing building projects. Anyone can start as a home renovator, but the fastest way to get ahead is an engineering degree, says Calvin Hollings, a project manager in Edmonton. His background spans carpentry, engineer training and ongoing leadership courses. “You first learn building, then you learn how to talk with consultants and architects. It’s understanding how to get the work done,” he says.
Money: Salaries start around $33,000, but experienced managers with engineering degrees or certificates can see up to $95,000 in base pay, with the higher ranges found in the west and Ontario. Managers on major projects with large-scale engineering can earn more in completion bonuses, stock options and remote-site premiums.
Opportunity: Some of the fire has come out of residential building, but industrial construction is still lucrative. Almost every province will need people overseeing big projects—potash and mining in Saskatchewan, petroleum in Alberta and B.C., and hydro dams in Manitoba and Quebec—with job demand for most of these projects peaking around 2015.
What it’s like: You should be analytical, organized and good at math. Days on the job cycle between the job sites and the office, where you might be co-ordinating with foremen on more than 30 projects. Days are 10 hours or more and revolve around managing relationships with sub-trades, clients, suppliers and bureaucrats.
6. Health Policy Consultant
Median Salary: $65,229
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 65%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 16%
As a health policy consultant or researcher you investigate health-care trends, and design policies and programs to help with issues such as medical record sharing. The field employs 63,000, most of whom work for clinics, drug companies or Health Canada. Degrees in management or health informatics, plus an MBA or CMA with a health focus help. Karen Born, a researcher at a Toronto hospital who began with a master’s in international health policy, says some of her colleagues even have backgrounds in criminology and the arts.
Money: While pay in the field starts low—research assistants with BAs make less than $35,000—those with graduate degrees can earn over $80,000, and senior advisers crack six figures. Those with specialized skills, such as experience with informatics software, can exceed $150,000.
Opportunity: An aging population, the need for integration among health providers and rapid technological development has fuelled the need for health policy specialists. In a belt-tightening era, the job calls for skills in data analysis and management science are particularly in demand.
What it’s like: Karen Born finds a lot of flexibility in her role as a researcher and academic. While specialists at think-tanks or associations can travel a lot, nine-to-five work is the norm for those at government agencies. The field encompasses everything from data analysis to outreach and project management.
5. Chemistry Specialist
Median Salary: $67,330
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 53%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 22%
Chemists research how chemicals interact with each other. The end goal can be anything from developing more efficient pain killers, to seeking out new sources of energy. If you get a chemical engineering degree, you’ll focus on the chemical processes and equipment used in the manufacturing of everything from plastics to fertilizers.
Money: Salaries tend to vary by industry, but a new chemical engineer can expect to start around $50,000 (one study found that among the major cities, Edmonton is the most lucrative and Montreal the least for newcomers). The oil and gas, and metals and mining sectors pay chemical engineers the highest, but they employ only about 7% of the profession. A chemist with a B.Sc. is looking at $40,000 to start. In academia and pure research, salaries range from $100,000 to well above $200,000.
Opportunity: The majority—about 70%—of chemical engineers work in manufacturing and so-called scientific services, which include waste management, pharmaceuticals and food. For chemists, there’s growing demand in the environment and water arena, and workplace safety and health.
What it’s like: Chemistry covers a lot of subjects. “The economy is dependent on new materials—from active molecules for drug development to agricultural products—all these things lead to chemistry,” says Sergey Krylov, a York University chemistry professor. He believes curiosity and perseverance are chemists’ most important assets, since they may work on complex projects for decades. “I compare it to running a marathon” says Krylov.
4. Data Analyst
Median Salary: $66,040
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 64%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 22%
As a data analyst, you collect and crunch data, and design systems to help your employer or client forecast trends and monitor performance. You may work at a tech consultancy or in the IT department of a large organization. You need a computer science or math degree (or at least a diploma), and programming experience is a major asset. If you want to do corporate strategic planning, consider an MBA.
Money: Salaries range from $62,00 to $76,000 in Canada, StatsCan reports, but can reach over US$115,660 in the U.S. Financial, HR and other service companies tend to be the most lucrative employers. Experienced data analysts have growing consulting and freelance opportunities.
Opportunity: “Big data” is the buzzword driving demand in this field. It refers to files so large they’re difficult to store and analyze, and they bedevil sectors from finance to meteorology. In the U.S., where the profession is among the fastest growing, the federal government is investing billions in crunching gluts of data. Employers are particularly keen on staff who get social media and analyze Internet data.
What it’s like: The demands vary widely. Bridget Warner used to work for a Calgary investment bank, pulling 80-hour weeks. Now, she consults for a non-profit. The hours are better, but the job takes more than number-crunching skills. “You paint a picture for executives.” Interpretive skills are also required to figure out what data clients need.
3. Electrical Contractor
Median Salary: $69,160
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 67%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 21%
As a senior electrician or cable technician, you oversee crews of installers and repairmen, or technicians working on power and telecommunications lines. To get certified, you must complete an apprenticeship (typically four years, but you earn while you learn) and several weeks of in-class training.
Money: Almost half this group is self-employed, which gives you more control over your income. Top-level power-line and cable workers can make $74,000 a year (more if they own their own business). The challenge for an independent is bill-collecting. “The average homeowner will pay you as soon as they can, but some small businesses never pay,” says Jeff Small, a master electrician in Kingston, Ont.
Opportunity: While demand for construction trades isn’t expected to reach pre-recession peaks for some time, lots of work remains. Small, for one, is hiring, but is having little luck finding certified electricians. Ottawa projects shortages of qualified workers by 2020, especially those with experience: almost 40% of the workforce is expected to be recent graduates.
What it’s like: You need to be good at reading blueprints, and you’ll need to keep up with changes to electrical standards. You should also be fit, because a lot of the work is done standing or in cramped spaces. And be prepared for long days. Small gets up at 4 a.m. to do invoicing and estimates, then meets up with his crew at 7:30 a.m. At the end of the day, there is more paperwork that often takes until 9 p.m. On the plus side, there are many avenues for expansion. Small is getting into street light installation, and solar may be his next niche.
2. Nursing Supervisor
Median Salary: $74,880
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 46%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 24%
As a supervisor, you manage the nursing staff at a hospital, clinic or nursing home. A four-year nursing degree is the price of entry into the sector, and you must register with the provincial body. Rising to supervisor requires both clinical experience (at least five years) and management training—part-time courses used to be enough, but increasingly you need an MBA or master’s in health administration.
Money: These managers can make more than $90,000 in base pay, with premiums for post-graduate education or working evenings and weekends. To reach top earning levels, it helps to volunteer on hospital committees, says Stephanie Laivenieks, a clinical manager at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. “You’ll meet other leaders and gain a perspective on how the organization works.”
Opportunity: Ottawa projects a 30% shortage of RNs and nurse supervisors by 2020. Filling the gap in management may require newcomers. “Few [of my staff] seem interested in getting into leadership,” says Laivenieks.
What it’s like: You must balance the need for quality care with the operational side of running an efficient hospital. You’re also managing a budget. And the hours can be tough: 12-hour shifts, sometimes through the night.
1. Petroleum Engineer
Median Salary: $90,002
5-Yr Growth in Employees: 85%
5-Yr Salary Growth: 13%
As a petroleum engineer, you plan and oversee energy exploration and drilling, including testing and refurbishing wells. Most are employed by energy multinationals, but many also work for industry suppliers and government agencies, or as independent consultants. It can be dirty work, but it requires brains: you need an engineering degree (typically with a petroleum specialty), and the professional P.Eng. licence (which takes two to four years of experience and a written exam). Additionally, you may need certification in safety protocols like blowout prevention and well control. However, oil companies tend to value hands-on over textbook learning, so a co-op program (which usually adds a year to a four-year degree) may provide the best launch pad.
Money: Petro engineers start at about $60,000 (more in Alberta) and senior specialists get as much as $300,000. There's a premium for work in dangerous or remote places, like an offshore rig or in Africa. You also earn more in the U.S.: the median salary there is US$120,000. But while the quickest path to high wages is foreign experience, soaring domestic demand makes that no longer necessary.
Opportunity: In a word, huge. Even during the recession, 71% of oilpatch employers were seeking petro engineers. With Canada's oil production expected to jump from 2.8 to 4.2 million barrels a day by 2020, the industry will be a jobs gusher, both in the West and Newfoundland. For drilling supervisors alone, Ottawa predicts there will be less than half the people needed to fill almost 13,000 openings over the next decade. Still, beware the vagaries of the market: if energy prices fall, companies may put projects on hold.
What it's like: The job requires a mechanical aptitude and an ability to quickly resolve problems. Even the smallest hiccup in well operation can mean big costs. "Every hole is different," says Dean Lynn, an independent drilling supervisor with 25 years of experience. "I'll get calls at 2 a.m. You need to keep people safe and make million-dollar decisions in a heartbeat."
For Jerry Kennedy-Bissah, a stint working for an oil company in Libya led to other foreign opportunities. He's now on a five-year contract overseeing the development of a refinery in Saudi Arabia, returning home to Brampton, Ont., every few months. He finds the biggest challenge is navigating the dangers on site. "There are lots of gasses in confined spaces. You always have to be educating your construction and contractor teams."
This year, retailers expect to hire 700,000 seasonal workers. Companies like Wal-Mart, Macy’s, Target, JCPenney and Kohl’s will each fill about 80,000 temporary holiday positions. In addition to major retailers, hundreds of holiday-related businesses–greeting card makers, decorating and design firms, caterers and travel services–will also staff up to meet the season’s increased demand. Hiring managers report that this year’s holiday job market will be the best it’s been in the last five years.
“A lot of people don’t realize that seasonal hiring includes good-paying professional jobs,” says Sara Sutton Fell, the CEO of FlexJobs, a service that helps job seekers find flexible professional positions. “There’s much more out there beyond low-level sales work.”Sutton Fell says companies are increasingly hiring seasonal professionals, meaning contractors and temporary part-time or full-time workers, in lieu of salaried workers because it keeps their costs down while also meeting the holiday rush. Workers benefit from the flexible scheduling and the visibility among potential employers. “It’s a fantastic way to get your foot in the door,” she says. “If you perform well and make good contacts, you might be able to convert that into something long-term.”
Holiday hiring begins in late October and really picks up throughout November, Sutton Fell says, while the employment period lasts until early January or slightly longer. Most seasonal positions are related to the uptick in holiday shopping, which creates a broad and deep impact on the economy. This year, the National Retail Federation forecasts $586 billion in holiday spending in the U.S., a 4.1% increase from 2011.
When it’s boom-time for retailers, it’s also crunch time for marketers, who organize seasonal advertising campaigns and brand-building events. One of the best-paying yuletide jobs is marketing coordinator. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the position earns a median of $52 an hour to develop and execute marketing strategies and lead marketing events.
Companies also ramp up their efforts on social media during the holidays to advertise products and deals and monitor consumer feedback. A social media assistant earns approximately $17 an hour to support the brand’s digital outreach. And with more people in stores, it’s also a good time to analyze consumer trends. A seasonal marketing research surveyor earns about $17 per hour to collect and evaluate consumer demographics and data.
Increased shopping also means businesses need to field more customer questions and complaints. Sutton Fell says companies like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus hire customer service representatives en masse during the holidays. They earn a median of $15 an hour to process customer requests and handle questions by phone and email. Also, somewhat ironically, seasonal recruiters are in demand during the fall and winter months to help with the hiring influx. They earn a healthy median of $25 per hour.
Other top-paying seasonal jobs include decorators, who design holiday window displays and building decor; production designers, who lay out holiday cards and party invitations; and photographers, who take family photos for holiday cards and photograph events.
Those looking to secure a holiday job should start today, says recruiting and job search expert Alison Doyle. If you’ve identified a company you’d like to work for, she recommends going directly to the career section of its website to search for openings. If not, she suggests searching keywords like “seasonal,” “holiday” and “temporary” and your location on job search sites like Simply Hired and Indeed.
“It’s important to apply for these jobs as carefully as full-time positions,” Doyle warns. Hand in a perfect resume, attach a cover letter if possible, have references ready and present yourself professionally on the interview. “Sometimes employers use these jobs as a way to screen employees. You may have a chance of getting a permanent position.”
Finding a job that is both enjoyable and pays well is a common goal. However, this enticing combination can be elusive. Generally, you are considered lucky if you have a job that falls into either category. If you make a lot of money, at least you're well-compensated for work you don't enjoy. If you love your job, at least you get to have fun even if the money isn't so easy to come by. But for a lucky few, there are careers that encompass both. A high salary is a fairly easy to calculate, but the enjoyment you get from a career will vary from one person to the next.
Traveling
If you enjoy traveling the world, there are a few high-paying jobs that may be perfect for you. Aircraft pilots for major airlines command salaries that are right up there with doctors and surgeons. Pilots can make as much as $133,000 to $145,000 a year, as of 2009. If you'd rather travel on the water than in the skies, consider working your way up to the captain of a cruise line. This job can earn as much as $250,000 annually. If you prefer to spend more time at your destination than you spend traveling there, consider the fact that rock bank roadies, pro golf caddies, high-end photographers and nearly any job in the movie production business will entail extensive travel to be on location.
Helping Others
If you get a rush from helping others and even saving lives, the medical field is the ultimate in enjoyable, high-paying jobs. Physicians and surgeons make around $147,000, dentists make more than $90,000 and even pharmacists can have salaries in the six-figure range. Of course, these jobs all require extensive schooling and the desire to deal with life-and-death situations, but for many people that's highly desirable.
Being Creative
If you're the creative type, there's a chance that your efforts will pay off. Most people who write, paint or act enjoy their work very much. The tricky part about these jobs is that they can pay very well, or they can pay little to nothing. Successful greeting card writers can make as much as $150 a card. If this is your thing, you may be able to crank out several cards a day. Successful authors can receive never-ending royalties from their books. And we all know that with the right talent and a little bit of luck, becoming successful in Hollywood is a lucrative career.
Playing All Day
Believe it or not, there are people who have made a career out of playing. The obvious examples are pro athletes. However, you can also make a living as a pro card player or professional gamer. If you can't break yourself away from the video games, this may be the ideal career for you. A professional gamer can make as much as $70,000 a year. The catch is that this kind of money is contingent upon winning competitions and therefore can't always be relied upon.
Researching
If you enjoy science and like learning new things, there are a variety of careers that can earn you a lot of money while you explore your favorite scientific pursuits. Astronomers can earn around $99,000. Physicists can make around $96,800. Nuclear scientists bring in a salary of about $94,400. So if researching these or other fields is your kind of thing, these careers could be perfect for you.
