Construction

According to the Ontario Construction Secretariat, the construction industry is one of Ontario’s largest employers. The Construction Sector Council has creat-ed a province-by-province, trade-by-trade labour market forecast for the next nine years. In Ontario, it is estimated that 60,000 workers will be required to replace those retiring, who will take essential technical, supervisory, and man-agement skills with them. Furthermore, an additional 75,000 workers will be needed to fill positions related to new construction between 2009 and 2017. (Construction Sector Council, Careers in Construction,  www.careersinconstruction.ca)

There are four categories of work in the construction industry. Depending on the career chosen, a graduate could work in any of these categories:

• new home building and renovation

• heavy industrial construction (i.e. building industrial facilities such as cement, automotive, chemical, or power plants, refineries, and oil-sands installations)

• institutional and commercial construction (i.e. building commercial and institutional buildings and structures such as stadiums, schools, hospitals, grain elevators, and swimming pools)

• civil engineering construction (i.e. engineering projects such as highways, dams, water and sewer lines, power and communication lines, and bridges.

Possible Occupations:

• Brick and Stone Mason

• Carpenter

• Electrician

• Plumber

• Civil Engineering Technologist

• Construction Estimator

• Home Inspector

• Interior Designer

• Residential Home Builder or Renovator

• Architect

• Electrical Engineer

• Structural Engineer

• Concrete Finisher

• Drywall Installer

• Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor

Health and Wellness

According to Canada’s Health Care System, published by Health Canada in 2005, “approximately 1.6 million people work in health care and social services in Canada”.  The same publication states that this figure makes this sector “the nation’s third largest employer after manufacturing and the retail trade”.  The demand for health and wellness professionals will only increase. One reason is that a large number of employees in the sector are nearing retirement age. A survey conducted in 2002 found that “12% of the total number of [Ontario’s] health care professionals … are over the age of 55.”  (MEDIAFORCE Helpdesk, The Ontario Health Care Labour Market, http://testunix.mediaforce1.com/itp/LM%20Report/1%20HealthCareLabour.pdf.) In addition, as our population ages, the demands on the health care sector will rise.  Depending on local circumstances, this SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on health care, fitness, or child care and family services.

Possible Occupations:

• Kinesiologist

• Childcare worker

• Audiologist

• Fitness instructor / certified personal trainer

• Doctor / nurse

• Physiotherapist / Registered Message Therapist

• Youth care worker

• Hospital porter

• Medical technician

• Ambulance attendants and other paramedical occupations

• Dental hygienist or dental assistant

• Nutritionist / Dietitian

• Pharmacist

• Sports therapist

• Recreational Program Leader

Horticulture and Landscaping

Ornamental horticulture and landscaping is a multibillion-dollar industry offering thousands of full- and part-time employment opportunities in Ontario.  The need for management of local parks and botanical/heritage gardens, maintenance of sports grounds, and construction of domestic gardens is growing, as is consumer demand for outdoor recreation, environmental sustainability, and eco-tourism. (Horticultural Trades Association, Landscape Ontario, www.horttrades.com)

Possible Occupations:

• Arborist / Tree Service Technician

• Horticultural Technician

• Golf Course Technician

• Landscape Technologist

• Parks Operations Manager

• Botanist

• Biologist

• Horticulturalist

• Landscape Architect

• Plant Pathologist

• Gardener

• Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Contractors

• Lawn and Garden Retail Salesperson

Information and Communications Technology

Information and Communications technology (ICT) is the sector that processes information (which includes capturing, transmitting, and displaying information) using electronic systems.

Core industries in this sector include:

• Communications systems (e.g., telecommunications, cable /broadband, broadcasting, and other program distribution systems)

• Computer systems (e.g., computer engineering, technical support, electronics, robotics,network engineering)

• Software and digital media (e.g., computer programming, computer and video games,  simulations, computer animation, data management, web design, web portals, Internet security).

Any of the above areas may include a range of activities dealing with design and development, sales and marketing, security, training, and maintenance and repair.   Depending on local circumstances, this SHSM may be designed to have a particular focus – for example, on communication systems, computer systems, or software and digital media.

Possible Occupations:

• Computer Network Technician

• Help Desk Technology Support Analyst

• Telecommunications Installation and Repair/ Network Cabling Specialist

• Audio and Video Recording Technician

• Broadcast Technician

• Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologist and Technician

• Film and Video Camera Operator

• Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Animator

• Web Designer and Developer

• Computer Engineer

• Computer Programmer and Interactive Media Developer

• Information Systems Analyst

• Software Engineer and Designer

• Residential and Commercial Installer and Servicer –  Satellite Dish Installer

• Telecommunications Cable Installer Helper and Splicer Helper

Manufacturing Technology

Automobiles, wood products, petroleum and coal products, iron and steel mills, primary metals and fabricated metal products, electricity, plastics and rubber products, printing, biotechnology, textiles, clothing, and leather products are all aspects of the manufacturing sector.

According to the Alliance of Sector Councils, the manufacturing sector is under tremendous pressure as a result of market-place globalization, an accelerated pace of technological change, and a global financial crisis. The alliance reports that manufacturers are now urgently refocusing their strategies to remain competitive and continue to be an important part of the Canadian economy.  (The Alliance of Sector Councils, Manufacturing, www.councils.org/our-priorities/manufacturing)

The SHSM in manufacturing provides students with a strong foundation for a wide variety of careers in the manufacturing sector, from those focusing on the service, repair, and modification of vehicles and vehicle systems to those related to the organization and management of manufacturing services and mass-transit systems.

Possible Occupations:

• Die Designer

• Millwright – Industrial

• Mould Maker

• Precision Machinist

• Tool and Die Maker

• Welder

• Industrial Engineer / Technologist / Technician

• Manufacturing Engineer / Technician / Technologist

• Mechanical Engineering / Technologist

• Photonics Technologist and Technician

• Production and Quality Control Technologist

• Chemical Engineer

• Electrical Engineer

• Metallurgical Engineer

• Production Engineer

• Labourer, Material Handling

• Machine Operator, Metal Machining

• Motor Vehicle Assembler

Non Profit

According to a survey conducted by the HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector, it was found that nearly 1.2 million people in Canada perform paid work for non-profit organizations.  This translates into more than 7 per cent of the Canadian workforce.

Employers include some 69,000 non-profit organizations nationwide.  They are active in a variety of areas – health and social services, religion, development and housing, arts and culture, sports and recreation, the environment, education and research, fundraising, and law, advocacy, and politics – both in Canada and internationally. (HR Council for the Nonprofit Sector, Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program, http://hrcouncil.ca/home.cfm)

Possible Occupations:

• Conference and Event Planner

• Business Manager – Non-profit Organization

• Fundraising Consultant

• Community Social Development Officer

• Public Affairs Officer

• Social Policy Researcher Consultant and Program Officer

• Social Services Planner/Researcher

• Developmental Service Worker

• Festival Organizer

• Office Manager- Non-profit Organization

Sports

According to the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canadian sports sector generates around $8 billion a year.

According to Statistics Canada, Kids’ Sports, over half of all Canadian children are involved in organized sports, and 57 per cent of parents are involved in some way with sports, as participants, spectators, coaches, referees, sports administrators or organizers, or members of sports organizations. The number of adult Canadians involved in amateur sport as spectators reached 9.2 million in 2005.  A 1997 survey reported that 59,300 Canadians were employed as coaches, trainers, referees and athletes. (Canadian Heritage, Organization of Sport in Canada: The Canadian Sport System, www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/sc/mssn/org-cdn-eng.cfm.)

Almost one in five Canadians aged 15 and older reported belonging to a club, a local community league, or a local or regional amateur sport organization. (Statistics Canada, Sport Participation in Canada, 2005, www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-595-m/81-595-m2008060-eng.pdf)

Whole sections of newspapers are dedicated to sport news, and many radio and television stations devote their programming to sports. Sports tourism produces revenues and employment.

Possible Occupations:

• Special Events Coordinator

• Arena Manager

• Broadcasting Sports Director

• Broadcast Technician

• Recreation Facility Manager

• Sports Agent

• Sports Announcers and Broadcasters

• Sports Photographer/Videographer

• Sports Photojournalist

• Technical and Coordinating Occupations in Sports Broadcasting

• Athletic Therapist

• Health and Physical Education Teacher

• Kinesiologist

• Athlete

• Coach

• Fitness/Sports Instructor