With many Canadians still looking for employment during the pandemic, it’s important to stay informed on what the most in-demand jobs that are actively hiring in 2021 are. That’s right! Even though the economy and the job market are going through a bit of a rough patch right now, certain industries are still experiencing growth. This means that if you have the right set of skills, you’re looking for a highly valued job, and you’re well informed on the best practices for looking for work, then you’re on the right track to considerably increasing your chances of getting hired.
For this article, we’ve looked at the top job market trends and predictions from all over Canada to give you a roundup of the top 10 in-demand jobs for 2021.
E-commerce specialists
Although in-store retail spending has taken a hit since the pandemic started, online businesses have been thriving. Growth in the e-commerce sector in Canada exceeded 70% in 2020, and e-commerce businesses that sell internationally as well as domestically have seen even more growth. That’s led to a huge demand for skilled e-commerce professionals across the country as companies scramble to keep up with their online sales.
The best part? There’s a wide range of e-commerce positions that are available, from customer service representatives to marketing managers to content writers.
Skilled labour professionals
Canada has had a shortage of skilled labour professionals for about a decade, and they continue to be highly sought after in 2021. Employers across the country struggle to find skilled and experienced welders, mechanics, electricians, technicians, engineers and drivers to fill key roles.
This means that companies and organizations are actively hiring for these profiles, and offer great pay and benefits to boot. These positions usually require training certificates, experience using specialized tools, and a solid record of past employment. For skilled engineer jobs, you’ll need a degree in engineering related to the field that you’re applying for.
User experience designers
Another area that’s seen considerable growth over the last few years is user experience, also known as UX. This is essentially everything to do with how people interact with, and experience, a product. It’s also related to how people perceive the utility, ease of use and efficiency of a service such as a mobile app or website.
Notably in-demand jobs within the UX industry are UX and UI designers, who are responsible for how websites and apps look and help companies improve conversion rates and sales. Apart from digital roles, product design consultants are also on the rise as companies look to make their products and services easy to use.
IT support specialists
Anyone who’s been working from home over the past year knows how frustrating it is when the company laptop starts acting up. That’s where support specialists come in to save the day. While the use of computers continues to increase in most professions, so does the need for individuals to help us run our systems and fix everyday tech problems.
Some computer support positions don’t require a bachelor's degree, and companies with a big remote workforce are actively hiring support staff to make sure their employees can quickly resolve common issues with company computers, laptops, smartphones and other devices.
Loan and mortgage professionals
Loans and mortgages have been in particularly high demand over the last few years, resulting in banks and financial institutions looking to hire skilled professionals in this area. Although some specialized positions in this sector require a few years of experience and a bachelor’s degree, other roles like loan coordinators are more related to clerical work and therefore require less industry-specific skills.
Loan coordinators review and process loan applications for businesses, banks and other financial organizations. If the position is client-facing, the loan coordinator will meet with individuals to assess their initial information, provide advice and handle their application.
Digital marketing experts
As you might have guessed from the other jobs listed in this article, digital jobs are in high demand, and skilled digital marketing positions are actively hiring in 2021. This is driven by the growth of online sales, an increasing base of online users across practically all industries, and the rapid digitalization of many services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Digital marketing specialists work to create effective and compelling marketing campaigns online, and to achieve business goals through the successful implementation of marketing campaigns. They are skilled at evaluating the needs of potential clients and know how and where to acquire data about consumer trends and behaviours.
Diversity and inclusion specialists
Many organizations have prioritized diversity and inclusion, meaning that D&I specialists may see an increase in demand over the next couple of years. Responsibilities of D&I specialists include developing organization-wide diversity and inclusion programs, working with HR to enforce diversity quotas and ensure fair recruiting processes, and overseeing diversity training programs.
Sales representatives
You might be surprised to learn that sales representatives are in demand in 2021, but although some companies have taken a hit during the pandemic, they’re still eager to reach their clients and continue selling. Sales representatives are usually the main point of contact between a business and its clients or customers, so they continue to be a valuable asset to any business.
Sales representatives make sure existing customers have the right products and services for their needs, they collect new customer leads, and pitch prospective customers over the phone or through other channels.
Healthcare support staff
The pandemic has caused sudden growth in the healthcare industry on a global scale. This has revealed the lack of healthcare workers, as well as an urgent need for healthcare support staff. These positions are non-clinical, meaning that no contact with patients is necessary for the job.
Healthcare support jobs include medical transcriptionists, medical administrative assistants, and medical secretaries to name a few. These jobs sometimes require specialized training or a bachelor’s degree but depending on the complexity and seniority of the position, it might not be required.
Data specialists
Specialized data and tech jobs have been in high demand since long before the pandemic, but as companies continue to digitalize areas of their organization, these jobs have become essential and highly valuable to employers.
Data specialists can have a number of responsibilities in an organization, but they usually revolve around the transfer of information from paper to electronic data systems. They also oversee data conversion programs, working with internal stakeholders to guarantee that data is accurate and properly archived.
Before you start applying to these highly in-demand jobs, remember that the hiring process in 2021 looks a little different than in previous years. Even if your job isn’t digital, your job interview probably will be, and you might even be asked to work from home for the foreseeable future.
So make sure that your resume is up to date, that you’re showing off the right skills, and that you’re well prepared to ace the interview.
For more insider tips on getting your career on track and levelling up professionally, check out the rest of the Adecco Canada blog!