4153-NOC

Employment counsellors

(NOC 4156)
Annual Earnings
$53,183
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
940

Career Overview

Employment counsellors work one-on-one with people, giving advice, information and the tools needed to find jobs and plan their careers. They also share information with employers on staffing and employment issues.

Duties

Employment counsellors:

  • Interview clients to gather information about their education, work history and career goals
  • Test and assess clients’ interests, abilities and challenges
  • Help clients write resumés, prepare for job interviews, build job-readiness skills and develop job-search strategies
  • Assess clients’ needs for support, financial aid and training and refer them to the appropriate services
  • Provide information to workers on keeping a job, moving within an organization, dealing with job dissatisfaction and making a mid-career change
  • Give clients labour market information about job openings and skill requirements
  • Advise employers on staffing and other employment-related issues
  • Consult with community groups, businesses, industry and other organizations that offer career planning resources
  • Take part in or organize workshops, networking events, panel discussions and other group learning opportunities

 

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$53,183

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$38.46/hr
Median$25.50/hr
Low$21.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

2,200

% Employed Full Time

57%
Source: 2016 Census

About half of all employment counsellors work in the Lower Mainland. Most are employed by the federal or provincial government or by post-secondary institutions. Some work for large organizations or private employment service agencies. Others are self-employed.

Employment counsellors work in offices and keep regular office hours. Sometimes, they attend evening and weekend events. Those who are self-employed may have more flexible hours.

They spend most of the workday at their desks and speaking with people, either in person or by video conference.

This work can be stressful. Employment counsellors deal one-on-one with clients who are at transition points in their lives. Many have recently lost their jobs. Some also have personal problems or unrealistic goals. Nevertheless, helping people navigate this difficult time and find a good job can make the work very satisfying.

Career Pathways

With experience, employment counsellors may advance into supervisory, human resource or training positions.

Some may go into private practice and work as consultants or executive-level coaches.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Enterprising
Enterprising
Conventional
Conventional

Job Titles

Coach, career
Consultant, employment
Consultant, outplacement / relocation
Co-ordinator, career resource centre
Counsellor, Aboriginal employment
Counsellor, career (except education)
Employment assistance officer
Employment services assessment
Facilitator, career development
Trainer, job search / employment search
Workforce development
Workforce development officer

Education, Training and Skills

Employment counsellors need a bachelor’s degree or college diploma in employment counselling, career development or a related field, such as human resources development, psychology, education or social services.

Some jobs also require:

  • A master’s degree in counselling psychology or a related field such as educational psychology, developmental psychology or social work
  • Certification as a certified career development practitioner (CCDP) through the BC Career Development Association

In addition, employment counsellors need to keep up with trends in the labour market and the economy. They must also have insight into what it takes to work in various careers.

Workers coming to B.C.

Employment counsellors who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information, such as a letter of good standing, references or a criminal record check.

Workers who trained outside of Canada

Employment counsellors who trained outside of Canada and have never received certification from a Canadian jurisdiction will likely need a full assessment to be certified in B.C. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact the BC Career Development Association for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Human Resources
  • Human/Social Service Work
  • Social Work
  • Psychology (Arts)
  • Psychology (Science)
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

79%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

78%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

77%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

71%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

69%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

66%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

64%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

62%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

61%
Negotiation

Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

61%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

2,200
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 140 5.8%
Kootenay 90 3.1%
Mainland/Southwest 1,350 52.4%
North Coast and Nechako 70 2.7%
Northeast 30 1.1%
Thompson-Okanagan 330 12.4%
Vancouver Island/Coast 660 23.1%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

940
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 10 0.7%
Kootenay 0 1.1%
Mainland/Southwest 470 1.1%
North Coast and Nechako 0 0.0%
Northeast 0 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 110 1.7%
Vancouver Island/Coast 260 1.2%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Public Administration49,200
Health Care and Social Assistance149,700
Educational Services64,500
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services46,100
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Technology has become increasingly important to the hiring and job-search processes. Employment counsellors with a strong understanding of new technologies can best support their clients. This includes applications used by employers to analyze resumés and applications, and one-way interviews, through which job applicants record answers to questions and upload them for review.

Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are also key priorities of many employers. A good understanding of EDI efforts will help employment counsellors better serve their clients.

Resources