Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS)
Search for Occupational Projection Summaries (2022-2031)
The 2022 COPS exercise was developed using the 2016 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). The 2016 NOC has 500 occupations. However, many of these occupations are small in terms of employment. Such occupations were combined into broader groupings according to the specific tasks of each occupation. By grouping small occupations with similar tasks together, 293 occupational groupings were obtained. Although NOC already has a more recent version (2021), the model’s input data were only available in the 2016 version of the NOC at the time of the development of the projections.
For more information on the 293 occupational grouping used in COPS, please visit the COPS Occupational Groupings' Definition.
Search Result : Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
- Occupational Outlook
- SHORTAGE: This occupational group is expected to face labour shortage conditions over the period of 2022-2031 at the national level. The section below contains more detailed information regarding the outlook for this occupational group.
- Occupations in this Group
-
- Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
- Skill Type
- Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
- Skill Level
- Occupations usually require university education.
- Employment in 2021
- 288,100
- Median Age of workers in 2021
- 42.8 years old
- Estimated Median Age of Retirement in 2021
- 62 years old
In order to determine the expected outlook of an occupation, the magnitude of the difference between the projected total numbers of new job seekers and job openings over the whole projection period (2022-2031) is analyzed in conjunction with an assessment of labour market conditions in recent years. The intention is to determine if recent labour market conditions (surplus, balance or shortage) are expected to persist or change over the period 2022-2031. For instance, if the analysis of key labour market indicators suggests that the number of job seekers was insufficient to fill the job openings (a shortage of workers) in an occupational group in recent years, the projections are used to assess if this situation will continue over the projection period or if the occupation will move towards balanced conditions. It is important to note that COPS does not identify imbalances that may temporarily appear during specific years, unless they will persist over the longer run.
Over the 2019-2021 period, employment in this occupational group increased at a pace that was substantially higher than the average of all occupations. The unemployment rate remained relatively stable and low, significantly below the national average in 2021. The number of job vacancies increased considerably and the number of unemployed per vacancy remained low, around 1 and constantly below the national average over the period. Employment in this occupation has been trending up over the past decade largely driven by technological progress. During the pandemic years of 2020-2021, this occupation recorded substantial additional gains, as many businesses adopted telework policies, and consumption leaned stronger towards e-commerce, supporting demand for IT services. Overall, the analysis of these and other key labour market indicators suggests that the demand exceeded substantially the supply in this occupational group over the 2019-2021 period.Over the period 2022-2031, the number of job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) for Information systems analysts and consultants are expected to total 143,700, while the number of job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) is expected to total 157,800.
This gap is not considered to be statistically significant, which means that the number of job openings and job seekers are projected to be similar over the 2022-2031 period. As such, the labour shortage conditions seen in recent years will not clear and are expected to persist over the projection period. Employment is projected to grow at a substantially higher rate than the average of all occupations. As a result, job creation will represent 48% of all openings, a proportion that is above the average of all occupations (about 37% of openings). Most of these workers are employed in the computer systems design and related services industry; as well as finance, insurance, real estate, and leasing services; and public administration. Demand for workers in this occupation will continue to be driven by the need for businesses and governments to continually upgrade their ICT systems in order to keep up with the most recent technologies and remain competitive. Indeed, computer services benefit from the constant development of innovative computer and communications products that are designed and serviced by the industry. Cloud-based platforms, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and open-source software continue to gain in popularity, while the implementation of 5G networks and further developments in advanced manufacturing, autonomous transport, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, language processing and biometric security represent a multitude of growth opportunities. Consumers and businesses own multiple electronic devices and are increasingly asking for compatibility, transferability, and access to their content from any of those devices. Retirements will also account for a significant proportion of job openings (about 42%). The retirement rate is expected to be similar to the average rate for all occupations because the average age of these workers is generally similar to that of all occupations, and they generally retire at the same age.
Regarding labour supply, given the important level of enrolment in post-secondary programs, school leavers are expected to account for almost two thirds of new job seekers in this occupational group, mostly from bachelor graduates, but also from the Master and PhD levels. Immigration will represent a little more than one quarter of job seekers, as this occupational group is very popular among newcomers. The skills typically required in this occupation are usually standard worldwide and not unique to the Canadian labour market. As a result, there are lower barriers for immigrants to become information systems analysts and consultants. In addition, foreigners seeking employment in this occupational group from countries that have a free trade agreement with a labour component with Canada with a labour component could be eligible to work in Canada, making it easier for them to enter and permanently remain in the country. Finally, about one tenth of new job seekers will come from other occupations, mainly from the other computer and information systems related occupations such as computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174), software engineers and designers (NOC 2173), database analysts and data administrators (NOC 2172). Despite this inflow of workers, the shortage conditions seen in recent years are not expected to disappear over the projection period.
Projection of Cumulative Job Openings and Job Seekers over the Period of 2022-2031
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion Demand: | 69,500 | 48% |
| Retirements: | 59,700 | 42% |
| Other Replacement Demand: | 7,700 | 5% |
| Emigration: | 6,800 | 5% |
| Projected Job Openings: | 143,700 | 100% |
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| School Leavers: | 104,700 | 66% |
| Immigration: | 47,700 | 30% |
| Other: | 5,400 | 3% |
| Projected Job Seekers: | 157,800 | 100% |