Should the state of the labour market be a factor in your career decision-making? Sure. Should it be the main factor? Probably not.
Career decision-making is a complex process. Picking an occupation that fits you - your interests, skills, temperaments and values is probably more important than finding one with a reported high future demand. And what happens if the projections are incorrect?
Nonetheless, learning about the world of work, including projected demand for specific jobs and future trends, can help when considering your options.
Where Do I Start?
The federal government, specifically Human Resources Development Canada, produces a great deal of labour market information.
Job Futures, a two-volume publication, provides information on current labour market conditions and projections for the next five years.
Occupations listed as currently experiencing good or very good (and
getting better!) labour market conditions includeComputer Systems
Analysts, Computer Programmers, Writers & Editors, Public Relations and
Communications Professionals and Chemical Technologists. Job Futures is
available in the Career Resource Centre or on the WWW at
http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/hrdc/corp/stratpol/jobs/english/index.html
The Winnipeg Labour Market Review provides an overview of activity occurring on a monthly basis. Of interest is the synopsis of comments from private sector economists. Activity on individual sectors (manufacturing, communications, finance, etc.) is presented in some detail.
Scotiabank predicts strong performances in Manitoba's agricultural,
communications, and printing and publishing sectors this year. Visit the
Labour Market Review site:
http://www.mb.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/lmi/comm/e-wpg.htm
High Demand Occupations in Manitoba is a joint publication
of HRDC and Manitoba Education and Training. Listed are high demand
occupations, occupations which are expected to be in high demand over
the next two years, occupations with active recruitment (high demand/high
supply), and occupations and skills required in aboriginal communities.
This publication is available at the Career Resource Centre and on the
World Wide Web at
http://www.mb.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/hdo/e-intro.htm
The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides an overview of more than 250 occupations in the U.S. Excellent information is provided on the nature of the work, job outlook, earnings, and required education and training.
Occupations projected to grow the fastest in the U.S., 1994-2005
include personal and home care aides, home health aides, systems analysts
and computer engineers. Available at the Career Resource Centre and at
http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm
Looking at the Trends
Statistics and labour market information can be useful, but remember that the economy can be quite volatile. Reported figures, unless updated constantly, can be inaccurate and they don't necessarily provide a complete understanding of the labour market. Interested in other views of the labour market? Read on!
Dr. David Foot, University of Toronto professor and demographer, suggests that an understanding of human populations is the key to making sense of the world of work. In his book, Boom, Bust & Echo, he examines the influence of demographics on everything from real estate to retail to recreation and draws conclusions about the future labour market.
What activities will be gaining in popularity? Foot says bird-watching, pleasure walking, sightseeing, playing darts, curling, golfing and bowling will all be coming on strong.
Faith Popcorn, through her company BrainReserve, studies societal trends to predict ideas for successful business opportunities in the future. In her book, Clicking, she identifies 16 trends that are influencing the marketplace and driving the entrepreneurial spirit. These trends are focusing on new ways that the workplace can service its customers.
Nuala Beck, author of Excelerate, writes about the constant change that is occurring in the economy. In her book, she provides a series of road maps that can be used to access facts and plan for the journey into the New Economy. She feels that, as a nation, we have shifted gears and now must put our foot to the gas and excelerate into the New Economy.
Beck's Seven Deadly Myths About the New Economy:
For More Information...
Information about the world of work doesn't have to come from a book on job futures. It is all around - in newspapers, on television and radio, on the Internet. By becoming aware of the world around you, you can make more educated, and hopefully more fulfilling, career choices.
How can you safeguard yourself against incorrect information? In Making Career Sense of Labour Market Information (http://www.educ.gov.bc.ca/randa/lmi/making/content/chap7int.htm), the following questions are provided to improve your analysis of labour market information:
Some of these questions are taken from Improved Career Decision Making in a Changing World (Ettinger, 1991) and Occupational Outlook (Alfred, 1992).
Career planning is your responsibility. A little extra time and research can go a long way to helping you make satisfying career choices.
As the focus on health and wellness continues to be more prevalent in our society, the profession of massage therapy continues to expand. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, massage therapy is an ancient healing art, which spans a wide variety of therapeutic approaches, working to improve a person's health and well-being. This is achieved through the hands-on manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues of the body.
Typical Day
Clients seek out a massage therapist for relief from various sport injuries, lower and middle back pain, and stressful work environments. A typical day in the life of a massage therapist involves eight to ten appointments with clients. Many therapists organize their own appointment schedules, which sometimes requires some flexibility. Due to the intimate nature of a therapeutic massage, the massage therapist must be professional and in tune with the client's needs and mood. For instance, if the client is talkative, then the therapist must be prepared to carry on a conversation. If the client is quiet, then this gives the therapist time to reflect on his/her day while respecting the client's mood.
Career Opportunities
Massage therapists can be found in various employment settings. These include health and fitness clubs, health spas, hotels and resorts, cruise ships, professional sports teams and athletic organizations, doctor's clinics, chiropractic clinics, homeopathic and naturopathic clinics, hospitals and nursing homes, and teaching environments. They often hold positions on licensing and advisory boards. There is a growing trend towards self-employment and therapists can specialize in certain areas that suit their lifestyle, their needs and the needs of their clients.
Our mentor, Bud Simmons, is self-employed. His specialties include deep muscle manipulation, injury prevention treatment and stress management. He completed his training from the Northern Institute of Massage, Blackpool, England, through an extension program held in Regina, Saskatchewan. He is a current member of the Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba and the Canadian Massage Therapy Association. Bud recommends being affiliated with an association because it provides opportunities for learning about new techniques and current issues in the field of massage therapy, and for networking with other professionals. As well, belonging to a professional association allows massage therapists to obtain liability and general insurance and is a requirement for licensing in the City of Winnipeg.
Pros and Cons
One benefit of being a massage therapist is the chance to meet new and interesting people. However, the work of a massage therapist is very time intensive and physically demanding. Therefore, the therapist must maintain a high level of personal self-care and physical health. As a self employed therapist, Bud also stresses that if a client cancels, you lose that income. Therefore, you must work hard on maintaining regular clientele. Because your hands are your income, you must also be very conscious of keeping your hands free from injury.
Tips Tips Tips
To succeed as a therapist, Bud recommends that students should have a great deal of patience and be willing to work with people from all walks of life. For example, Bud's clients include federal court judges, corporate executives, ballet dancers, and accident victims. Massage therapists should also be self-motivated and confident enough to be the best massage therpist possible. As a former medical technician, hospital executive director and consultant, Bud has found massage therapy to be a good profession with many opportunities but also much competition.
Information on massage therapy and other educational programs is available in the Career Resource Centre.
A common statement heard from Human Ecology (Family Studies) graduates is "What can I do with this degree?". Though your degree may qualify you for a number of jobs, many of the positions require special skills and experience. It is a good idea to start developing contacts, joining relevant associations and clubs, and acquiring volunteer and work experience as early as possible. After examining your interests, it is wise to try and generate alternatives based on your expertise.
The following is a list of potential jobs for Human Ecology (Family Studies) graduates though some may spill over into other departments. The list is not exhaustive, but is intended to help students generate options.
Want more information on any of these occupations? Visit the Career Resource Centre, 474 University Centre.