These sectors offer the strongest job opportunities for newcomers in Surrey

British Columbia is pressing ahead with diversification plans for its economy, reducing its reliance on forestry and resource sectors. The resultant increase in employment in other sectors means that skilled newcomers with international experience have a better chance of finding work in their chosen careers. 

 

Let’s dive into the sectors in demand and experiencing growth, as well as one with labour shortages in Surrey and the surrounding areas.

 

Shortage of staff in healthcare continues

As is the case in many parts of Canada, there are major labour shortages in the healthcare sector across Surrey, especially for pharmacists, licensed practical nurses, medical lab techs, sonographers, nurses’ aides, orderlies, and patient service associates. There is also a shortage of osteopath practitioners and nurse practitioners.

Hiring more newcomers for these positions would lead to shorter wait times and ease the stress related to patient care.

Multiple roles across IT and engineering 

With the recent launch of Canada’s AI program, there is a need for skilled newcomers across many specializations in the IT sector.

Employment growth fuelled by investment is likely to create more positions for newcomer professionals looking to work as information systems specialists. Owing to a shortage of specialist professionals, there are also far more positions available for computer systems developers and programmers.

Over the past three years, there has also been a reported labour shortage of engineering managers, with openings outpacing the available workforce, and a need for power engineers and power systems operators.

Manufacturing enjoys growth in prospects

Canada’s efforts to expand facilities and enhance existing services indicate good prospects for employment in the manufacturing sector over the next three years. This will especially benefit newcomers looking to work as supervisors in electronics and electrical product manufacturing facilities, owing to employment growth and planned retirements of current workers.

Similarly, supervisors will be needed in furniture manufacturing and assembly plants, with high employee turnover also leading to better employment opportunities.

Education sector’s top demand: Teachers

There is a need for more educators as well as support staff in primary and secondary schools across British Columbia and beyond: from teachers and teaching assistants to student monitors, crossing guards, lunchroom supervisors, and other related support occupations in the education sector.

The Surrey area has experienced a labour shortage of both elementary school teachers and kindergarten teachers over the last three years. An even bigger labour shortage has been reported for secondary school teachers, with far more job openings than skilled individuals available to fill them.

Various openings in skilled trades 

Tradespeople in British Columbia, as in the rest of Canada, are in demand. There is a shortage of industrial electricians, construction millwrights and industrial mechanics.

Over the next three years, more jobs across essential services for households and businesses in Surrey and the surrounding areas are expected — particularly pest controllers, fumigators, upholsterers, fishmongers, and meat cutters.

Join the natural resources and energy sector 

British Columbia’s natural resources strategy plans to invest heavily in critical minerals and energy, while maintaining sustainable land use and enforcing conservation plans that align federal and provincial protections.

At present, there is a need for managers specializing in natural resources production and fisheries, with the province experiencing a labour shortage. Similarly, a positive employment outlook for supervisors in the mineral and metal processing sectors is expected over the next three years, as well as more opportunities for wood processing machine operators.

Opportunities across city and emergency services

Growth in urban areas demands skilled professionals who can keep city services running smoothly and provide effective emergency services to communities.

In Surrey, there is a major labour shortage of police officers. In the next three years, more opportunities are expected to be made available for law enforcement officials as well as firefighters, bus drivers, subway drivers, and transit operators.

While this article reflects the current and foreseeable employment trends in Surrey and surrounding areas, the demand for skilled workers across sectors can vary with time. If you plan to move here, view the job outlooks in the Lower Mainland–Southwest Regionthe Lower Mainland beforehand.