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. Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of an employment case manager is like.
Source: Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2021 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))
Source: 2021 Job Bank Wage Report
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook
10 year expected job openings: 1,020
Employment counsellors:
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.
Source: 2016 Census
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 B.C. occupational regulators.
For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.
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 35 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. You’ll also find the skill strength needed, letting you know how capable you must be in that skill.
Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
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.
Career paths
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.
Additional resources