Careers in the North

The North draws people from all over the world for career opportunities and life experiences that cannot be found anywhere else. Resource-based industries provide abundant opportunities in trades, technical fields and administration, especially for engineers, skilled miners, industrial electricians and financial administrators. There is also an increasing demand for qualified health and education professionals to service growing northern communities.

Trends

• Sufficient training positions are needed to meet the current and future demand for nurses, educators and trades workers.
• There is a high demand for technical and computer related skills due to increasing dependence on technology.
• Developing Aboriginal communities create a demand for administrators and Aboriginal specialists.

Key Northern Recruitment and Retention Strategies

• Improve compensation, working conditions, and address quality of life issues.
• Market the opportunities and benefits available in particular sectors or regions.
• Deliver strategic and decentralized education and training initiatives intended to provide people living in the North with the skills required by the northern labour market.

Increasing Aboriginal Participation in the Economy

Initiatives are underway across all jurisdictions to increase Aboriginal participation in the economy, such as providing financial support and bringing educational opportunities closer to the Aboriginal population through distance education and the establishment of educational facilities. The public and private sectors are encouraging Aboriginal employment through employment equity programs, internships, job experience initiatives, and northern benefits agreements.