According to Statistics of Canada, the relaxation of numerous COVID-19 public health limitations owing to the delivery of vaccination passports increased the number of persons working full-time in retail occupations in British Columbia in September.

Even though its labour force is increasing, the West Coast province currently boasts one of the lowest jobless rates in Canada, after only Manitoba. In Kelowna, in the province’s interior, and Victoria, the province’s capital city on Vancouver Island, unemployment fell to 4.4% in October.

In October, the province added a net 10,400 jobs over the previous month, with full-time employment increasing by 1.8%, or 38,400 jobs, and part-time positions decreasing by 4.6%, or 28,000 posts.

While COVID-19 has harmed many people’s career chances as a result of numerous public health regulations and the economic impact on some sectors, many other jobs have performed even better than before the pandemic began.

Here are the top 5 in-demand jobs in British Columbia, as determined by their National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, which Ottawa claims improved throughout the epidemic.

1. Payroll Administrators (NOC 1432)

These are the individuals that collect, verify, and process payroll information, calculate employee pay and benefit entitlements, keep correct payroll records, and distribute payroll information within a department, corporation, or other entity.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, demand for payroll administrators skyrocketed as many firms were forced to lay off employees owing to pandemic public health precautions — only to hire them back after the restrictions were released. Payroll administrators were required to adopt actions such as job terminations, temporary layoffs, and employee hour reductions.

In mid-November, the Indeed.ca employment website showed 174 payroll administrator opportunities in British Columbia alone, with a total of 667 across Canada.

A payroll administrator in British Columbia earns a typical annual salary of $47,750 based on a 37.5-hour work week and full-time employment, but may earn up to $71,500 in the province’s northeastern region.

2. Information Systems Analysts And Consultants (NOC 2171)

During the first year of the pandemic, the number of IT employment in Canada increased by around 32% as travel restrictions and lockdowns pushed Canadians to rely on internet purchasing and Zoom meetings.

Analysts and consultants in information systems evaluate and test system requirements, design and implement information systems development plans, policies, and procedures, and give advise on a wide variety of information systems challenges.
They were suddenly in more demand than usual. Indeed has 876 vacancies for information systems analysts in British Columbia and 6,427 similar jobs across Canada as of mid-November.
Based on a typical work week, these professionals make a median annual pay of $72,150 in British Columbia, but may fetch up to $120,000 in Vancouver, the province’s largest city.

3. Computer Programmers And Interactive Media Developers (NOC 2174)

During the pandemic, the same dynamics that increased demand for IT analysts also increased demand for computer programmers and interactive media developers. During the first year of the pandemic, employment in this occupation increased by 15%.

These are the individuals responsible for writing, modifying, integrating, and testing computer code for software applications, data processing applications, operating system-level software, and communications software. Developers of interactive media build, edit, integrate, and test computer code for Internet and mobile apps, computer-based training software, computer games, film, video, and other forms of interactive media.

They earn a typical yearly salary of $84,400 in British Columbia based on a 37.5-hour week, but may earn as much as $146,250 in the province’s Okanagan area.

4. Elementary And Secondary School Teacher Assistants (NOC 4413)

The work opportunities for teacher’s aides are rated the highest on the government’s Job Bank website.

These are the individuals who provide assistance to pupils as well as instructors and counsellors with teaching and non-instructional activities. Under the supervision of teachers or other childcare experts, they help in the areas of personal care, education, and behaviour control.

The Supreme Court of Canada ordered British Columbia to cut class sizes in 2016. Since then, the province’s population has risen, and there are now more kids than ever – increasing the demand for teacher’s aides.

Early in the epidemic, the province’s elementary and secondary schools shifted to online instruction. However, they returned to in-class learning in September of last year, and money was raised to support additional health and safety procedures, protective equipment, and new learning groups.

Teacher’s aides in British Columbia receive a median annual salary of $49,375, with those at the top of the pay range earning $58,500 per year for a regular work week.

5. Technical Sales Specialists – Wholesale Trade (NOC 6221)

Technical sales representatives offer scientific, agricultural, and industrial items, as well as power, telecommunications, and computer services to governments as well as commercial and industrial institutions.

The individuals who do these professions have been heavily hurt by supply chain interruptions caused by COVID-19, but these positions are returning as the economy recovers. In mid-November, Job Bank listed 71 positions in this industry in British Columbia, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. This occupational group was represented by 525 jobs on Indeed.

These individuals earn a typical annual salary of $52,650 in British Columbia, although incomes may reach as high as $103,100 per year in the province’s northeastern region based on a regular work week.