Job prospects Lead Data Scientist in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "lead data scientist" 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 moderate for Data scientists (NOC 21211) in British Columbia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several 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.

Increasing awareness of the importance of efficient data systems and management makes this occupation in demand across a number of sectors. 

Demand is centered in the Lower Mainland-Southwest region as many companies have headquarter offices in Metro Vancouver.

Here are some key facts about Data scientists in British Columbia:

• Approximately 1,900 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Data scientists mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 35%
  • Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 11%
  • Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 9%
  • Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 6%
• 73% of data scientists work all year, while 27% 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 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 7% of data scientists are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 72% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 28% 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: less than 5% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • 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: 34% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 57% 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 a "lead data scientist" in British Columbia or across Canada.

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