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Top skills for Canadian employers in 2024

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As the Canadian economy continues to slow, Canada’s job market is changing, and that’s had an effect on the skills that employers are looking for.

In 2023, amid record-low levels of unemployment, large swaths of the labour market faced skills and staffing shortages. But 2023 saw the labour market swing back in favour of employers as the unemployment rate ticks up.

Meanwhile, 2023 also saw the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI), as well as an unprecedented number of cyberattacks against large organizations.

Here’s a look at some of the top skills and industries that will be in high demand in 2024.

A SLOWING ECONOMY

The year started with an unemployment rate of five per cent in January, close to the record lows of 4.9 per cent that we saw in the summer of 2022. But over the course of 2023, the unemployment rate has slowly creeped up amid repeated interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada aimed at slowing down economic activity. As of November 2023, Canada’s unemployment rate stands at 5.8 per cent.

“It’s not the same job seekers’ market that it was at the start of 2022, when really across the economy employers were looking to add workers basically in almost every type of job,” said Brendon Bernard, senior economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab.

The technology sector, in particular, has seen steep declines in hiring. This past year saw major layoffs at several large tech companies such as Shopify, Amazon, Microsoft and Spotify.

According to a November report from the Indeed Hiring Lab, software development and IT operations were the two sectors with the biggest declines in the number of job postings in Canada. Compared to November 2022, the number of job postings in these two sectors dropped 53 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively.

“From my conversations with (tech) employers, it was really common for candidates to have multiple offers, being able to play job offers from one to another to get the best salary,” said Bernard. “It’s really come back down to earth since and it’s sort of the balance has now shifted back in the employers’ favour.”

However, not all sectors have been affected by the economic slowdown. The health-care sector continues to face significant labour shortages, with pharmacy, therapy, dental and nursing among the sectors that saw the smallest decline in the number of postings, according to the Indeed Hiring Lab.

“A lot of health-care employment is in the public sector, so hiring isn’t going to be impacted by the same cyclical forces that impact private sector hiring,” he said.

Bernard says this is especially true as Canada’s population gets older, with demand for care only expected to rise.

“The key factor underpinning strong demand for health-care workers, be it doctors, nurses or personal support workers, is just the aging population. That’s not a trend that’s really going to be impacted by whether the economy is having strong year,” he said.

CYBERSECURITY

Tarek Sadek, executive director Toronto Metropolitan University’s Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship, says given the slower economy, many employers will be hiring for “what is needed” rather than “what is possible.”

“(Among the) top industries we believe is going to be hiring is cybersecurity,” said Sadek. “Cybersecurity, I believe it’s going to continue regardless (of the economy) because this fits in with what is needed, not just what is possible.”

Last year, many large Canadian organizations have experienced cyberattacks, including hospitals, library systems, retailers, grocery stores, school boards and even government agencies. With cybersecurity becoming more top of mind among companies and organizations, experts tell CTVNews.ca demand for jobs in this field is only going to go up.

“A big one that’s been in conversation with many of our clients is connected to cybersecurity. We are seeing, whether it’s in the news and a lot of times it’s behind the scenes, data breaches, hacking attempts, cyberattacks, phishing … on a regular basis,” Mike Shekhtman, senior regional director at recruitment agency Robert Half.

A report from CDW Canada this past summer found that cybersecurity breaches had more than doubled among Canadian businesses, with 62 per cent of organizations surveyed saying they were facing an IT security skills gap.

Shekhtman notes that hiring dedicated cybersecurity positions may be only possible in larger organizations, but he says smaller companies might start to require cybersecurity skills as an “add-on” to some of their existing positions.

“People with those skill sets are going to be high in demand,” he said.

THE AI FACTOR

This past year also saw the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, a trend that could have major implications for the job market going forward, experts say.

“The kind of maturity we’re reaching with AI right now, actually, is changing the game a little bit. Even small companies, even individuals can improve their productivity using AI,” said Sadek.

The number of jobs asking for AI skills still remains small, but has been surging. Generative AI was mentioned in 0.06 per cent of job postings as of the end of October, according to Indeed.com’s report, up from “virtually zero” in 2023.

“I expect more of exponential growth in the next year or two,” Sadek predicts.

But experts also note the rise of this technology also means demand for some jobs, particularly repetitive jobs, are going to go down. Indeed.com’s report on jobs and hiring trends in Canada for 2024 found that 55 per cent of Canadian job postings have “moderate exposure” to changes driven by AI, while 21 per cent had “high exposure.”

“Anything to do with … repetitive high volume, data entry-related positions, I think that’s going to be one of the higher or most impacted positions that can see generative AI replace,” Shekhtman said.

On the other hand, Bernard says jobs that require any sort of “physicality” such as construction or personal care are less likely to be replaced by AI, compared to white-collar jobs.

“It’s not like AI isn’t just going to take all of these (white-collar) jobs. But I think one potential way to get ahead is actually thinking about familiarizing oneself with these new tools and sort of finding a way of taking advantage of the new technology to sort of augment their role,” he said.

SOFT SKILLS

Interpersonal soft skills are going to be even more important in the age of AI, according to Sadek. These include creativity, adaptability, critical thinking, problem solving, time management, emotional intelligence and communication.

“AI will help us to be more productive, but it’s not going to replace us,” he said.

Shekhtman says this is especially true after the pandemic-induced changes to how we work.

“The ability to communicate effectively and have the critical thinking in today’s landscape is probably more evident than ever before,” he said.

“Whether it’s managing remote and hybrid teams, as added layer complexity to pulling projects together… it’s going to be something that many executives are going to look for in terms of examples of how people have been able to adapt and drive businesses forward.”

 

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CP NewsAlert: Two people confirmed killed when Vancouver Island road washed out

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PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.

The body of the other driver was found Sunday.

More coming.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Sonia Furstenau staying on as B.C. Greens leader in wake of indecisive election

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The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.

The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”

Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.

Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.

He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.

But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.

The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio making a difference off the pitch as well as on it

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Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.

The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.

Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.

Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”

Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.

The winner will be announced in late November.

The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.

The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.

They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.

The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.

“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.

“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”

His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.

“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.

“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”

The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.

“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”

Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.

“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.

The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.

“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”

Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.

“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”

“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”

The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.

Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.

A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.

Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.

Follow @NeilMDavidson on X platform, formerly known as Twitter

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.



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