Electrical Trades and Telecommunications Occupations (NOC 724)

What They Do Power system electricians work on electric power distribution system equipment/apparatus. Telecommunications line and cable workers work on lines/cables. Telecommunications installation and repair workers work on telephones as well as telephone switching, computer, data, voice, and other telecommunications equipment. Cable television service and maintenance technicians work on cable television signal and associated equipment in buildings. Electrical power line and cable workers construct, maintain, and repair overhead/underground electrical power transmission and distribution systems.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Construction 41% Information and cultural industries 18% Mining - unspecified 10% Paper manufacturing 2% Transportation and warehousing 2% Public administration 2% Primary metal manufacturing 2% People in this group work for: Electrical contractors Maintenance departments of buildings, factories, plants, mines, and shipyards Electrical power generation, transmission/distribution, and cable television companies Public utilities Telephone and other telecommunications services/organizations The unionization rate (62%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of are found in Alberta and Prince Edward Island while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Telecommunications Installation and Repair Workers (NOC 7246) Industrial Electricians (NOC 7242) Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System) (NOC 7241)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Continually updating knowledge/skills Setting standards and guidelines for safety/operations

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need To work in this field, you need a high school diploma. To gain trade certification, you usually need to complete an apprenticeship program or have a combination of experience/courses. Trade certification is required for some occupations in some or all areas of Canada. To work in most telecommunications occupations, you need a high school diploma. Many employers request a trade/vocational or community college diploma. Professional certification is available in most telecommunications occupations in this group. Qualified tradespersons may also obtain interprovincial (Red Seal) trade certification, which provides job mobility throughout the country. In some occupations, you need college or other courses in electronics/electrical technology, experience or on-the-job training or apprenticeship training. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma and almost 2 in 5 have a trade/vocational certificate.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Architectural and Construction Technologies - Other (C331) Computer Science (C720) Construction Technologies (T332) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Maintenance Repair Diagrams/drawings Troubleshooting		Useful High School Subjects Industrial Arts (Electricity) Computer-related courses Drafting Math Physics English
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated FAIR because: Employement grew at an average rate. Hourly wages ($22.30) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is below average. The unemployment rate (6%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Fair   2009   Fair

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be FAIR because: The employment growth rate will likely be average because of a growing energy sector that should require electrical power line workers and power system electricians. The retirement rate will likely be above average and the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition You'll be competing with recent graduates/unemployed workers. You'll need to continuously upgrade your technical and interpersonal skills.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $14.89 $11.74 25-54 $23.21 $19.76 55+ $22.44 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $22.30 $18.07		Hourly wages ($22.30) are close to the national average ($18.07). These earnings are above average for occupations in the trades, transport and equipement operators sector and above average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at a below-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Close to the average
The unemployment rate (6%) is close to the 2004 average (7%). This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 10% 10% 1992 12% 11% 1993 11% 11% 1994 8% 10% 1995 7% 10% 1996 8% 10% 1997 7% 9% 1998 7% 8% 1999 6% 8% 2000 4% 7% 2001 6% 7% 2002 7% 8% 2003 6% 8% 2004 6% 7%

% of Part-time work is below average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 97% 81% Part-time 3% 19%		There were 135,700 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 14% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers (3%) is below the 2004 average (19%) and has stayed about the same since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Average
The percentage of self-employed workers is 6% compared to the 2004 average of 15% and has stayed about the same since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 6% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 9% 10% 25-54 80% 72% 55+ 10% 12%		The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be above average because of a tendency to retire at an earlier-than-average age (58).
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Below average
The percentage of women (5%) is below the 2004 average of 48% and has stayed about the same since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 5% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31