4.42 Canadian Sector Information

Learn about sectors in Canada

Start your sector research by looking at some online resources that describe the major economic sectors in Canada. These sites offer a national overview of sector activity, giving you a "big picture" of how these sectors operate.

Below, you'll find five resources that will introduce you to general sector information in Canada. If you want to learn about sectors in more detail, go to the Try This  link in the right hand column.

1. The Alliance of Sector Councils:
The websites of the Canadian Human Resource Sectoral Councils provide information about the sectors they represent. Features include professional development, career awareness, online newsletters and, in some cases, job banks. Go to the Sector Councils List to find links to each of the councils. Check out the sectors in which you're interested.

2. Industry Profiles
The Sector Councils have produced a series of Industry Profiles that examine how changes in technology and the business environment affect the sectors’ labour force, including future employment. Click on "List of all Industry Profiles" for an overview of many sectors in Canada.

These reports provide a good introduction to the sector "jargon" (the business language of the sector) and give a general introduction to the sector. This information is especially useful when you're preparing for job interviews in a particular sector.

Important: Be sure to note the dates of the Industry Profiles as economic conditions have changed in the last few years. When doing sector research, you should also learn about the sector conditions in the community where you want to work.

3. Strategis - Industry Canada:
This is the Federal Government’s one-stop database for economic, trade and government information. For business sector information, go to Business Information by Sector and then select Industrial Category.

4. Workopolis Resource Centre:
Scroll down to Tracking Industry Trends to for resources to help you find sector information.

5. Work Futures:
This publication is another good resource for sector research. Go to the Search Occupational Titles box on the left and type in the name of the sector you're interested in (e.g. tourism, entertainment, finance, health care, forestry). You'll find both sector occupations and trends.

The introductory chapters of Work Futures also offer a good source of information about economic and sector trends in Canada. Check out Choosing a Career.