Wages and Labour Market Info: 3 Key Areas to Check
- Vivian Chong
- May 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 20
Now that you’ve identified some possible careers, it’s time for a reality check: Can I afford to do this? How much will I make in this new career? How much will it cost me to get there? What is your target time period for making this career change?
In this section, we’ll walk through how to find clear, updated information about expected salaries, growth industries, and job demand for your new career. No, money isn’t everything, but we all pay bills. And understanding your financial goals and risk tolerance (especially if you are entering a new field) will help you narrow down your career interests into realistic, achievable goals.
Checking Wages and Employment Outlook
If you're unfamiliar with NOC codes, we suggest you review this section on exploring careers. You'll need the codes for this next part.
On Work BC, navigate to Career Profiles, and copy and paste a NOC code or type a job title (e.g., "51110" or "Editors") into the search bar at the bottom of the page.
You will then be able to see estimated annual earnings and job openings for the next few years for that occupation. Check the postings under “Recent Jobs” on the right-side panel to see what specific employers are offering for salary and required experience.
Job Bank offers a Compare Wages tool that lets you compare low, medium, and high hourly wages for different jobs. You can also compare results by community or area. The website also provides occupational Outlook Reports to help you understand growth and employment demand for different jobs.
Understanding the Role
Work BC also offers Career Videos for many occupations on the website, which include interviews with people working in the profession. Watching these interviews will give you a sense of what a typical day in that profession looks like to determine if that’s a job you want to pursue. Videos are included on the Career Profiles for most occupations or on the Career Trek page.
Finding Real Job Postings
Check real job postings on job sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn. Most employers will include a salary range in their postings as well as a list of required experience and qualifications. Reviewing postings from real employers in your city will help you understand the current market demand and what gaps you need to fill to get there.
Comments