According to WorkBC’s 2022 Labour Market Report, more than one million job openings (1,017,000) are expected in British Columbia over the next decade. Five industries will generate about half of all jobs over the next ten years—with Healthcare and Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and Construction at the top of the list.
Trying to decide what to study or looking to make a career change? Nearly 80% of all job openings in BC will require some type of postsecondary education or training. Whether you’re seeking part-time certificate and diploma programs that allow you to work or support family, or full-time two-year degree programs that get you in the workforce sooner, BCIT prepares you with skills to succeed in these growing sectors.
Here are the most in-demand jobs forecasted by the 2022 Labour Market Report and the BCIT programs that will equip you for employment:
Healthcare and social assistance
The health care and social assistance sector will post the largest number of job openings from 2022 to 2032, responding to BC’s aging population and increasing immigration. The job with the greatest demand is Registered Nurses, with 22,080 job openings requiring a Bachelor of Science, Nursing degree.
What to study at BCIT?
For Registered Nurses looking to advance their practice, The BCIT Pediatric Emergency Nursing Specialty program is the only one of its kind in the country and recognized at every Canadian hospital. This part-time, advanced certificate program is available through distance and online learning, giving you flexibility to learn at your own pace. Positions start at approximately $32 per hour.
The full-time Medical Radiography program trains you in X-ray imaging. You’ll be equipped to work in areas of computed tomography (CT), fluoroscopy, OR imaging, emergency and trauma, interventional procedures, and mammography. It’s a dynamic, fast-paced career rooted in helping people from all walks of life, where no two patients’ needs are the same. Those who successfully complete the program are eligible to write the CAMRT national certification exam.
When you graduate from the Environmental Public Health program, you’re set up to work in almost every industry to safeguard public health. BCIT students gain current, practical experience to become certified and start working. Entry level position salaries start at approximately $66,000 and go to approximately $95,000 after a few years.
Jobs in professional, scientific, and technical services
With economic growth driving 55% of expansion in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, these industries will continue to grow rapidly over the next decade. Which jobs will experience the most demand? Administrative Officers with a diploma, Information Systems Analysts with a degree and Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers with a degree top the list.
What to study at BCIT?
The New Media Design and Web Development full-time diploma program gets you prepared for employment in some of BC’s fastest growing fields with applied skills in just eighteen months. Whether Web and App Designer, Front-end Web Developer, or Motion Graphics Designer sounds intriguing to you, you can build a thriving career in new media across a range of workplaces, from advertising agencies, to digital entertainment companies, or in-house marketing and communications departments.
After completing the 10-month full-time Technology Support Professional Certificate program, offered fully online or blended, you can find careers in a variety of industries including business, finance, government, health, and telecommunications. Depending on previous academic and work experience, you can pursue roles like User Support Specialist, Junior Network Administrator, and Technical Support Analyst.
The full- or part-time Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity BTech program sets you up for a number of in-demand roles like Cybersecurity Analyst, Computer and Information Systems Security Manager, IT Security Consultant, and Corporate Security Officer.
The Industrial Network Cybersecurity program is also the only of its kind in Canada to prepare you with the cybersecuruity skills essential to safeguarding industrial systems, such as the cell towers that enable communications. You might work in engineering consulting firms, manufacturing companies, energy management firms, food-and-beverage processing plants, technical sales and service, the natural resources, or the mining industry. The demand for Industrial Network Cybersecurity graduates continues to grow and is expected to span across industries.
Jobs in construction
Over the next 10 years, the construction industry will post about 72,000 jobs to replace retiring workers, with the greatest demand for Home Building and Renovation Managers and Construction Managers.
What to study at BCIT?
With the option to complete the Construction Management program full- or part-time, graduates earn their Bachelor of Technology and get prepared to jump into roles as Construction Superintendent, Site Manager, General Contractor, or Project Manager, among other high-growth positions.
As demand for home construction rises, so does the demand for professionals in construction skilled trades, such as Sheet Metal. Graduates from the BCIT Sheet Metal program are prepared to support the booming industry with skilled work in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Once you complete your work-based training, you can take the Interprovincial Red Seal exam and open yourself up to even more work opportunities.
Jobs in transportation and trade
Over the next decade, British Columbia will need over 6,000 new Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics, and Mechanical Repairers. BCIT’s full-time 20-month Diploma of Technology in Heavy Duty Truck Technology gets you ready for these high-demand positions and advancement opportunities with a co-operative education component that prepares you for apprenticeship and manufacturer-level certifications.
The wholesale trade field is growing rapidly over the next decade, and you can get set up for employment with the full-time Global Trade and Transportation Management program. According to WorkBC’s report, there will be over 40,000 new job postings for roles like Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers, Technical Sales Specialists and Account Representatives in Wholesale Trade.
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Options for every career stage
Whether you’re planning to attend post-secondary for the first time or looking to advance your career with specialized training, BCIT can equip you with the technical skills, real-world experience, and problem-solving ability needed to thrive in BC’s rapidly changing workforce.
With over 300 full-time programs and 1,000 courses offered through Flexible Learning, you can pursue a new high-growth career path while maintaining other employment or family commitments.
Surely, you are very proactive in future planning.