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 : Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
- 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
-
- Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
- Skill Type
- Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
- Skill Level
- Occupations usually require university education.
- Employment in 2021
- 42,000
- Median Age of workers in 2021
- 42.8 years old
- Estimated Median Age of Retirement in 2021
- 65 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 fell in 2020, but bounced back in 2021 recording a solid gain on average over the period. The unemployment rate increased over the period, from an historically low point in 2018, but remained below the national average. In addition, the numbers of job vacancies increased significantly in 2021. Finally, the number of unemployed workers per job vacancy remained relatively stable during the period, remaining very low and significantly below the national average. Overall, the analysis of 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 Electrical and electronics engineers are expected to total 12,600, while the number of job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) is expected to total 13,700.
This gap is not considered to be statistically significant, which means that the number of job openings and job seekers are projected to be relatively 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 expected to grow at a slightly slower rate than the average of all occupations. Job growth in this occupation depends to a large extend on the demand for computer, electronic and electrical products, but also on the demand for machines and equipment with electrical and electronic components. Demand will be driven by the solid pace of growth anticipated in consumer spending on electronics and in business investment in machinery and equipment (including ICT products) in Canada and the United States over the projection period. However, the computer, electronic and electrical products manufacturing industry will continue to shift to higher end products that have a stronger dependency on machinery and require workers with a more specialized skillset. The shift away from communications equipment and computer manufacturing to measuring, control, navigational and medical device manufacturing might limit employment growth. As a result, employment growth will be positive, but constrained by productivity gains. The retirement rate will be similar to the average of all occupations. The average age of those workers and the median retirement age are about the same as the average worker. Indeed, retirements will represent about 59% of total job openings, the same proportion as the average of all occupations.
Regarding labour supply, given the important level of enrolment in post-secondary programs, about 60% of job seekers are expected to come directly from the school system, mostly bachelor graduates, and to a lesser extend, Masters and PhDs. The projected number of school leavers alone is projected to be larger than the number of total job openings, given the popularity of engineering programs. Immigrants are also expected to be a major source of labour supply in this occupation, accounting for about 39%. 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. Given the relatively important supply of workers, and following historical patterns as well as the strong labour demand in other related occupations, a significant number of workers will seek opportunities in other related professions, such as engineering managers or another related engineering occupation such as computer engineers (NOC 2147). This negative mobility will be sufficient to offset the large number of school leavers and immigrants, relatively levelling the projected flows of job openings and seekers over the projected period and allowing the recent situation of labour shortage to persist over the long run.
Projection of Cumulative Job Openings and Job Seekers over the Period of 2022-2031
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion Demand: | 3,000 | 24% |
| Retirements: | 7,500 | 60% |
| Other Replacement Demand: | 1,200 | 10% |
| Emigration: | 900 | 7% |
| Projected Job Openings: | 12,600 | 100% |
| Level | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| School Leavers: | 18,900 | 138% |
| Immigration: | 12,300 | 90% |
| Other: | -17,500 | -128% |
| Projected Job Seekers: | 13,700 | 100% |