Job prospects Ice Specialist - Oceanography in British Columbia
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Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "ice specialist - oceanography" 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

Good

The employment outlook will be good for Geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) 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.
  • Several positions will become available due to retirements.
  • There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

As a result of climate change, B.C. faces an increasing incidence and severity of forest fires, heat domes, and atmospheric rivers, which may result in flooding and landslides. B.C. is also at risk of seismic activity, including earthquakes and tsunamis.  Opportunities for employment in this occupation will likely increase to mitigate and/or react to the social and economic impacts of these disasters.

Here are some key facts about Geoscientists and oceanographers in British Columbia:

  • Approximately 2,150 people work in this occupation.
  • Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 36%
    • Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 18%
    • Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 15%
    • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 14%
  • The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
    • Full-time workers: 89% compared to 78% for all occupations
    • Part-time workers: 11% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • 62% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 38% 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.
  • 28% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 74% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: 26% compared to 48% for all occupations
  • The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
    • no high school diploma: n/a
    • high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
    • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
    • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: 46% compared to 22% for all occupations
    • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 53% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Legend

0 out of 5 stars
Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
2 out of 5 stars
Limited
3 out of 5 stars
Moderate
4 out of 5 stars
Good
5 out of 5 stars
Very good

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "ice specialist - oceanography" Geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) or across Canada.

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Mining Sector Hiring Forecast

The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) forecasts that the mining sector will need to hire a total of 280 null in British Columbia from 2011 to 2021.

The following table shows MiHR’s forecast for the total number of jobs that will need to be filled from 2011 to the given year.

Table on the cummulative hiring forecast for null in British Columbia starting from 2011.
Cumulative Hiring Forecast (base year 2011) 2013 2016 2021

Region: British Columbia

Occupation:

105 160 280
Labour Market Information Survey
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