Job prospects Electrician in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "electrician" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be limited for Electricians (except industrial and power system) (NOC 72200) in British Columbia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Employment in this occupation is largely in the construction sector. Provincial infrastructure spending for the upgrade and construction of schools and highways will support employment opportunities in non-residential construction for the forecast period.

The Conference Board of Canada projects that housing starts are expected to remain slow in the short term because of labour shortages in the construction sector. However, increased household spending may support home renovations in the short to medium term. Renovation investment is expected to steadily increase to maintain older housing and allow homeowners to age in place.

Here are some key facts about Electricians (except industrial and power system) in British Columbia:

• Approximately 15,800 people work in this occupation.
• Electricians (except industrial and power system) mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 87%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 92% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 8% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 52% of electricians (except industrial and power system) work all year, while 48% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 10% of electricians (except industrial and power system) are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 19% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 56% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 14% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 6% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "electrician" in British Columbia or across Canada.

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