We’re counting down the top 12 most promising career opportunities across the country, detailing the average salary, qualifications, and outlook for each in-demand role. Read on for expert guidance on the best post-pandemic jobs Canada has to offer.
Table of Contents:
Does Canada Have Better Job Opportunities?
Canada continues to be an attractive destination for many immigrants due to its growing economy, employment prospects, and policies aimed at integrating skilled foreign workers. According to Statistics Canada, over 405,000 permanent residents were admitted in 2022. Canada’s unemployment rate is around 5% nationally, lower than many comparable countries.
Several high-demand industries actively recruit foreign workers to fill nationwide talent shortages. These include information, technology, engineering, skilled trades, healthcare, finance, and more. New immigrants can access settlement services like language training, credential assessments, and job search support. Many regulatory bodies also have processes to recognize foreign qualifications. Those with in-demand skills may apply for faster visa pathways and provincial nomination programs promising strong prospects.
So while securing the first Canadian job can still pose challenges, overall, Canada offers an encouraging environment and valuable resources to equip newcomers for success in an economy hungry for skilled immigrants.
Where to Find Jobs in Canada
Finding a job in Canada as a newcomer can be challenging and confusing. With so many job sites and resources out there, it’s difficult to know where to start your search and which opportunities are legitimate. However, one of the best places to look for jobs in Canada is on the official Government of Canada Job Bank website at https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/jobsearch/.
The Job Bank website offers reliable job listings screened and verified by employment counselors across the country. Open roles are updated frequently by a range of nationwide employers and recruitment firms. You can search for opportunities by location, job title, skills, and more. The site also guides writing Canadian-style resumes and cover letters customized for employers’ needs.
Best Jobs in Canada
Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is a medical specialist responsible for administering anesthetics and monitoring patients during surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures. Anesthesiologists develop anesthesia plans for each patient, carefully calculating dosages of medications and modulating normal physiologic status.
It is a highly in-demand specialty in Canada due to an aging population that requires more complex surgeries and procedures. Recent graduates in the field earn an average salary of around $158,000 a year starting out. With further subspecialization and experience, senior anesthesiologists can eventually earn well over $325,000 annually on average. In fact, the latest reports show anesthesiology is among the top five specialty resident programs with the highest vacancy rates.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | 4-year undergraduate bachelor’s degree
4 years of medical school to earn an MD or DO degree
5 years of anesthesiology residency program
Possible 1-2 year clinical fellowship for a subspecialty |
| Skills | Expertise in physiology, pathology, and pharmacology
Situational awareness and quick reflexes
Communication and Interpersonal aptitudes |
| Average Salary | $342,269 per year |
Web Developers
With website technology advancing faster each year, skilled web developers are in very high demand across Canada’s bustling digital economy. Web developers are professionals who design, build, and support complex backend and frontend architecture, empowering modern websites and web applications to properly function.
Web developers typically earn between $50,000 to $90,000 CAD, depending on their experience level and exact role, though senior positions at top technology firms or working independently can yield over $120,000 annually. Canada currently faces a shortage of around 20,000 IT workers, with web developers among the most urgently needed technology roles.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Diploma or bachelor’s degree in computer science programming, or web development
Knowledge of programming languages like JavaScript, SQL, Python,Java
Familiarity with frameworks and web technologies such as React, Angular, HTML5, CSS3, etc. |
| Skills | Troubleshooting issues across front and backend
Problem-solving skills
Collaborating with designers for seamless UI/UX
Ability to work independently or on a web team |
| Average Salary | $75,872 per year |
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Aerospace Engineer
Aerospace engineers design and develop cutting-edge aircraft, spacecraft systems, missiles, satellites, and more, pushing boundaries and advancing air and space technology nationwide. With an abundance of major aviation and defense contractors based in Canada, along with the federal space program and budding private space startups, career prospects for aerospace engineers look extremely bright. The average starting salary exceeds $ 68,000 CAD annually, rising well over $100,000 yearly to senior roles.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering
Licensed as a Professional Engineer (PEng)
5+ years of experience in senior positions
Specializations in areas like avionics, propulsion, and structures |
| Skills | Advanced knowledge of aerodynamics and engineering physics
Mastery of executing complex mathematical calculations
Skilled with analytical/critical thinking abilities
Attention to fine detail for strict quality standards |
| Average Salary | $84,067 per year |
Construction Manager
As Canada pledges a substantial $130 billion infrastructure investment over the next 10 years, construction managers who coordinate diverse aspects of building projects face bright career prospects for their in-demand expertise. Overseeing budgets, timelines, subcontractors, and regulatory and safety compliance, their skills will prove vital to realizing the government’s vision for developing the country’s future infrastructure landscape.
With current average salaries approaching CAD $100,000 annually and a pivotal role guiding national construction priorities, construction manager opportunities are expanding profoundly across Canada thanks to major federal commitments promising growth within the industry.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree in construction management or a related field
2+ years of experience in the construction industry
Certifications like PMP, CEM, CDS, or Gold seal |
| Skills | Adapting designs and timelines as needed
Conducting risk assessments
Managing bidding processes and contractor negotiations Leadership and communication skills |
| Average Salary | $75,187 per year |
IT Project Manager
As digital transformation continues across all industries, companies require skilled professionals who can lead technology teams to successfully execute critical projects. In fact, recent reports show that the number of IT project management roles has grown by over 20% annually.
An IT project manager oversees the process of planning, building, testing, and deploying IT systems and software applications. In Canada, those working in metropolitan centers like Toronto and Vancouver can expect an average salary of $105,000.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or a related field
Knowledge of programming languages and coding frameworks
Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
3+ years of experience in the IT industry |
| Skills | Budget oversight
Resource allocation optimization
Stakeholder relationship management
Vendor management |
| Average Salary | $123,570 per year |
Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists are among the most in-demand medical specialists in Canada today, with excellent career opportunities. Recent statistics show that over 4 million Canadians are affected by depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and other psychiatric conditions every year. A practicing psychiatrist diagnoses and treats disorders related to cognition, emotion, and human behavior. In Canada, the average salary of a psychiatrist is approximately $334,332 per year. The career outlook for aspiring psychiatrists also looks extremely favorable at the moment.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | 4 years of medical school
5-year psychiatry specialty residency
Provincial medical license
Board certification in psychiatry |
| Skills | Developing patient treatment plans
Time management habits
Utilizing therapy techniques properly
Diagnosing mental health conditions |
| Average Salary | $334,332 per year |
Surgeon
Surgeons in Canada are facing a soaring demand for their specialized skills and knowledge. The country’s surgical volume is forecasted to climb 35% to over 70 million procedures annually by 2030. Working alongside other medical experts, surgeons analyze health conditions, administer treatments, and conduct operations to heal physical trauma and improve well-being.
With the average general surgeon in Canada earning around $313,017 per year, the field presents tremendous opportunities for prospective surgeons as the healthcare landscape develops. The future remains bright for those pursuing this career path within the country.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from a recognized university
5-year residency program in general surgery
Provincial medical license
Certification in the specific surgical specialty from the Board |
| Skills | Concentration and focus
Ability to perform under pressure
Communications and teamwork
Disease and anatomy expertise |
| Average Salary | $313,017 per year |
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are the unsung heroes of healthcare, blending their expertise in medications with a passion for patient well-being. In Canada, the role of a pharmacist is pivotal. Beyond dispensing prescriptions, they conduct health assessments, provide immunizations, offer medication counseling, and collaborate closely with other healthcare providers to optimize patient care. When it comes to salaries, pharmacists in Canada earn an average salary of $90,000 per year, which shows how good income is for pharmacists in Canada.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Bachelors in Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy degree from a recognized university
Pass the national/provincial exam
Pharmacy residency program |
| Skills | Customer service skills
Supply chain management
Business/retail skills
Expertise in pharmacology |
| Average Salary | $90,000 per year |
DevOps Engineers
A DevOps engineer streamlines software delivery by integrating development and operations. They design and implement systems supporting application rollout, data flows, infrastructure changes, and feature updates. DevOps engineers are indispensable across Canada’s booming technology sector.
As software systems grow more complex and businesses demand greater agility, DevOps opportunities are soaring. The average DevOps engineer salary in Canada is around $98,145 per year. Pretty remarkable pay for an emerging IT career pathway.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, engineering, or relevant field.
Practical experience with SDLC & DevOps processes
Earning professional certifications such as AWS, Kubernetes, and Azure DevOps |
| Skills | CI/CD pipeline configuration
Cloud platform expertise
Monitoring and observability
Automation focuses on optimizing workflows |
| Average Salary | $98,145 per year |
Chief Marketing Officer
Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) have become pivotal strategic leaders driving growth for Canada’s biggest brands and top revenue-generating organizations. This demand has made the CMO role one of the hottest in the C-suite today when it comes to salary and impactful potential.
As head of all the marketing operations, the CMO creates comprehensive strategies and campaigns that shape brand messaging across all the platforms. The average CMO salary in Canada exceeds $225,000 annually.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Undergraduate degree in marketing, business, or communications
7+ years of marketing leadership experience
Track record of success driving growth |
| Skills | Strong business acumen
Strong communication, presentation, and storytelling ability
Agile management approach
Entrepreneurial mindset |
| Average Salary | $225,000 per year |
Software Architect
Software architects design, build, and deploy software systems that fulfill business and organizational requirements. Canada is seeing strong demand for these roles, with a projected 12% growth rate from 2022-2031, outpacing most occupations. It is among the most promising careers in the country. The average salary for a software architect in Canada is around $138,251 presently, with the top 10% earning over $180,000 annually. This career trajectory demonstrates the potential of the field and why it is so sought-after in Canada.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree in software engineering or computer science
5+ years of hands-on development experience
Proficiency in programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, and C# |
| Skills | Data modeling and SQL database knowledge
Strategic thinking and vision
Executive influence and relationship-building
Problem-solving skills |
| Average Salary | $138,251 per year |
Instructional Designer
Instructional designers create effective educational content and teaching methods customized to meet employee training needs within companies. Collaborating with business executives and HR teams, they evaluate current employee skills compared to future skill requirements.
There is an expanding demand for instructional designers across Canada as organizations aim to train staff on new abilities and smoothly impart knowledge. The average salary for an instructional designer in Canada now stands at about $75,000, with the potential to rise with more years of experience.
Job Qualifications and Skills Required
| Job Qualifications | Bachelor’s degree in instructional design or a related field
2-5 years of related work experience in instructional design
Training and development certification or diploma is preferred (e.g. CPLP) |
| Skills | Ability to analyze learning needs
Proficiency with e-learning authoring tools
Familiarity with learning management systems
Ability to work independently |
| Average Salary | $75,000 per year |
FAQs
Which industries in Canada are experiencing talent shortages?
Major industries experiencing talent shortage in Canada include information technology, engineering, natural sciences, healthcare, skilled trades, and financial services. Canada’s aging population and competitive global talent market have exacerbated domestic shortages in these key areas.
What cities offer the most job opportunities in Canada?
The top cities with the greatest number of job opportunities in Canada include Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamilton, and Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo. These major metropolitan areas offer diverse economies and growing industries like tech, finance, healthcare, construction, and natural resources.
Which jobs can new immigrants get most easily in Canada?
The most accessible jobs for new immigrants to Canada are often in trucking, food service, cleaning, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, retail, and home healthcare, as these positions often require less pre-existing Canadian work experience. Getting licensed for regulated professions like medicine, law, and engineering can take substantial time and thorough review of credentials.
What jobs are in high demand in rural areas of Canada?
Some of the most in-demand jobs in rural areas of Canada include healthcare workers like doctors and nurses, teachers, tradespeople like welders, electricians, and mechanics, engineers and technical professionals for resource industries, information technology and telecommunications workers, machinists, and equipment operators for agriculture, forestry, mining, and oil and gas drilling.
What types of jobs in Canada don't require English or French?
While most professional jobs do require English or French language ability, there are some jobs in manual labor, food service, hospitality, and tech that can be done without strong language skills. For example, housekeepers, kitchen helpers, cleaners, farm workers, laborers in construction and manufacturing, landscapers, drivers, butchers, and software programmers may have opportunities without fluent English or French.