Canada’s engineering tech labor sector shows significant growth
Staff
General engineers productivityReport shows employment growth for engineering and applied science technicians and technologists outpacing national average by more than 20 per cent.
According to a new report by The Conference Board of Canada, employment growth for engineering has strongly outpaced that of overall employment growth in Canada over the past 15 years. This points to strong gains and a healthy engineering sector.
The Assessing the Economic Contribution of Canada’s Engineering and Applied Science Technicians and Technologists report highlights the employment growth rate engineering and applied science technicians and technologists. This occupational group grew at an average annual pace of 3.5 per cent between 1997-98 and 2013-14, to reach around 400,000. Furthermore, their average wage rate has consistently remained above the national average by more than 20 per cent.
Canada’s engineering and applied science technicians and technologists contribute $54.7 billion to the economy—3.3 per cent of Canadian GDP, according to the most recent data from Statistics Canada.
The report points to a shift in the manufacturing environment and industrial conditions. Technical professionals, such as engineers, will be required to improve and renew their skills in order to continue contributing to Canada’s productivity growth. Another significant factor that is being felt across all areas of the workforce is the wave of retiring professionals—this will lead to a need for trained individuals to fill both vacancies and future opportunities.
“To sustain economic growth in light of slowing labour force growth, Canadian businesses need to focus on improving productivity and competitiveness. This means that demand for this occupational group will continue to grow in coming years,” said Pedro Antunes, Deputy Chief Economist, The Conference Board of Canada.
Engineering and applied science technicians and technologists are found in the professional, scientific and technical services sector, manufacturing, construction, public administration, the information, cultural and recreation sector and the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction sector.
