2026 is fast approaching and with that comes the inevitable question of what jobs will be in demand. The next year promises to be… interesting… with several trends dominating the economic news cycle. In particular, trends include:
- The return of skilled trades as the Canadian and provincial governments make a push for more infrastructure to keep the economy afloat and take advantage of new technologies
- Technological changes, particularly in the areas of AI, security, and analysts
- Green collar jobs are growing as more businesses see the benefits of sustainable practices
- Health care as the aging population grows along with the importance of mental health care.
- Leadership roles. Technology cannot replace strong leadership and with so many new workers entering the workforce, it’s important for leaders to build up new management styles to meet their needs.
The overarching theme for these jobs is the fact that there will be a need for workers who can combine human strengths: creativity, ability to learn quickly, and teamwork, with technology.
Top Paying Jobs as Identified by LinkedIn
- Data Engineer ($125,000)
- HR Director ($120,000)
- Construction Project Manager ($115,000)
- ESG Manager ($110,000)
- Cybersecurity analyst ($105,000)
- Registered Nurse ($100,000)
- HVAC Technician ($95,000)
More specifically, in BC, the job market will be hungry for registered nurses, construction managers, and financial analysts. But if you’re looking for entry level positions, it’s likely that tourism and retail will still do very well as people travel around the province for work and leisure. It’s also worth noting that many of these roles have a relatively short training period (other than registered nurses) and rely on skills and experience more than a ton of education. Skilled trades in general are expected to be more in demand as the number of people retiring from those fields continue to grow.
2026 promises to be a stable year for Canada’s economy with a fair balance between employers and employees (something we haven’t seen in a while!) This is good news for many job seekers, so now is the time to update your resume, get any short term training you need, and get out there!
Good luck
