What do you want to be when you grow up? - It's an age-old question that strikes fear in the hearts of students everywhere.
If you answered computer programmer, then your career prospects are very bright according to Frank Feather, futurist and author of Canada's Best Careers Guide 2000. It's an often-cited fact that the demand for computer professionals far exceeds supply in Canada, and the exploding growth of the Internet has created many jobs descriptions that didn't exist ten years ago.
But did you know that teachers, nurses and pharmacists are also in demand?
These are the 10 highest growth careers through the year 2010, according to Feather:
- In-Home Nurse
- Nurse Practitioner
- Programmer Analyst
- Physician and Surgeon
- Teacher, Special Education
- Pharmacist
- Psychiatrist
- Radiology Technician
- Registered Nurse
- Physiotherapist
Why the growth in these areas? Quite simply, Canada's population is aging. The "baby boomers" - those born between 1946 and 1964 - are entering middle age (but don't tell them that!) As they get older, they will require more health care services. As well, there will be a huge swell of retirements in the health and education sectors in the next ten years, and these retirements will create vacancies for younger workers.
Just as some sectors are growing, others are shrinking. Feather dubs the following as "Dodo" jobs - jobs that are in rapid decline or are becoming obsolete due to technological advances:
- Typist (typewriter)
- Typesetter
- Watch and Clock Repairer
- Statistical Clerk
- Fisher
- Bank Teller / Cashier
- Telephone Operator
- Tool and Die Maker
- Farmer
- Locomotive Operator
If your heart's set on tending to the family farm, don't despair just yet. Although traditional resource-based jobs are dwindling, related areas of specialization, including organic farming and agricultural biotechnology, are growing.
If you are more creative than technically inclined, there is still a place for you in the "new economy" as a graphic designer, web content writer, illustrator, or in one of many other creative roles.
Your best approach to career planning is to keep abreast of market trends, talk to professionals in the sectors that interest you, and plan your education options well. With a bit of foresight and research, you'll be less likely to end up in a job that's going the way of the Dodo.
What do you think about our list of top ten jobs? How do you feel about your future? Drop us a line! (feedback@myschool101.com)
Sources:
Frank Feather: Canada's Best Careers Guide 2000; Warwick Publishing
Human Resources and Development Canada (http://www.hrdc.gc.ca)
Related Links:
Government - Youth Employment Centre, Career Planning http://www.nextsteps.org/net/career/career.htm
University of Waterloo's Career Development Manual http://www.cdm.uwaterloo.ca
Monster.ca's Campus Zone: http://campus.monster.ca
