Give life to your goals in a province recognized for its industrial and cultural vitality. Colleges and trade schools in Ontario are in cities where countless career-seekers have discovered new possibilities and taken advantage of a rich variety of opportunities. Simply put, this region is Canada's commercial heartland. It's a place of energy and growth.
6 Ontario Industries Known for Good Career Opportunities
When you start exploring what this province offers, it doesn't take long to realize that a motivated person can find many ways to create a balanced and fulfilling life here.
The fact that so many people choose to call this part of Canada home is evidence of that. But it is the region's employment sectors that make the prospect of going to school and working in Ontario so compelling. Here are six that stand out:
1. Health Care and Social Assistance
This sector has one of the lowest ratios of unemployed workers to job openings in the province. In fact, in 2012, there were only 1.2 people looking for work per opening.** That means the demand for qualified professionals in this field is very high while the competition for jobs is low.
As it is, the health care industry already employs a lot of Ontarians—812,500 as of 2015.*** But many employers still need more people with the right qualifications. And that need is expected to increase in the coming years.
By 2030, the province's population of seniors could double.**** And older patients tend to require a lot more medical attention and personal support. As a result, Ontario is thinking big and planning to reform its health care system in order to address the changing demographics.
Expect new kinds of vocational possibilities to emerge even as demand stays strong in existing areas. And don't forget: Employers in this industry consist of more than just places like hospitals, doctor's office, and research universities. They also now include exciting companies in biotech, drug manufacturing, and medical device innovation.
2. Skilled Trades
More than one million: That's how many people the trades employ in Ontario.*** And you don't have to look far to understand why. A number of the province's urban areas rank among the fastest-growing places in North America.
So, aside from the obvious construction jobs that come with the growth of its cities, the region also boasts thriving sectors in advanced manufacturing (such as for automobiles), resource extraction, and cross-border exports. In 2011, that last category accounted for a staggering amount of economic trade between Ontario and the U.S.—about 716-million dollars worth.*
But many employers can't find enough skilled tradespeople to fill their job vacancies. In fact, 41 percent of the province's job providers report that their greatest need is for people who possess proper trade qualifications.**
3. Entertainment and Creative Services
After California and New York, Ontario employs the most North Americans in this sector. And it leads the nation in areas like film production, print media publishing, and audio recording.*
A lot of that is thanks to what happens in the Toronto area. Check out these facts about the great city:
- It has the most designers in Canada (including architects and those within the categories of graphic, industrial, interior, and fashion design).†
- In 2013, more than $1 billion was spent on film and TV productions there.†
- The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is one of the world's biggest and most prestigious events.*
4. High-Tech Development
Mobile app creation and digital gaming are big business in Ontario, especially in the Toronto and London areas. And many of the world's most famous technology companies (like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and IBM, to name a few) have offices here.
The Toronto region alone hosts 37 percent of Canada's top 250 technology enterprises as ranked by Branham Group, Inc. And, in 2013, the average annual salary of high-tech workers in the city was $64,600—more than $16,900 above the average for all employed Torontonians.†
5. Professional Business and Legal Services
About 79 percent of Ontarians are employed in a service sector.* Many of the most promising opportunities tend to be found in the business, financial, and legal areas. Consider that, just within Toronto, you can find:†
- 7 of Canada's top 10 accounting practices
- 70 percent of the nation's biggest communications and advertising agencies
- 21 of the 30 largest law firms in the country
6. Hospitality and Tourism-Related Services
Tourism is a $28 billion-plus industry for the province. In 2013, it supplied more than 362,000 jobs. And the amount earned by people who worked in this sector totaled over $16.5 billion.‡
The major cities are a big draw for tourists, but so are the plentiful scenic and outdoor recreational opportunities that are available across different seasons.
* Government of Ontario, website last visited on August 30, 2016.
** The Conference Board of Canada, The Need to Make Skills Work: The Cost of Ontario's Skills Gap, document last accessed on June 18, 2018.
*** Statistics Canada, website last visited on August 30, 2016.
**** Government of Ontario, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, website last visited on August 30, 2016.
† City of Toronto, Key Industry Sectors, website last visited on February 19, 2018.
‡ Government of Ontario, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, website last visited on August 30, 2016.