4164-NOC

Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers

(NOC 4164)
High opportunity occupation High opportunity occupation
Annual Earnings
$79,983
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
1,830

Career Overview

Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers:

  • Do research, develop policy and set up or manage programs in areas such as consumer affairs, employment, home economics, immigration, law enforcement, corrections, human rights, housing, labour, family services, foreign aid and international development.
  • Work in government departments and agencies, industry, hospitals, educational institutions, consulting establishments, professional associations, research institutes, non-government organizations and international organizations
  • May be self-employed

Duties

Social policy researchers:

  • Develop social programs, social legislation, or proposals based on the makeup of the population, social and economic analysis and the evaluation of pilot projects.

Home economists:

  • Do research, advise consumers on the selection and proper use of food products, textiles and other consumer goods
  • Teach household management skills
  • May also provide advice in the development and promotion of new food products, retail buying, social program management and small businesses

Housing policy analysts:

  • Identify and assess economic, demographic, and social developments
  • Report on their implications for housing policy

International aid and development project officers:

  • Plan, organize and manage foreign aid and international development policies and programs

Social survey researchers:

  • Develop questionnaires, coordinate and conduct surveys, analyse data, and compile and interpret statistics on social issues and policy areas

Social services planners:

  • Do research, develop social programs, assess, coordinate and develop awareness of existing social services, and make sure that services are duplicated
  • May also work with land use planners to determine the impact of major land use plans for transportation, housing and recreational facilities projects

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

$79,983

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$50.00/hr
Median$38.35/hr
Low$25.69/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

3,900

% Employed Full Time

61%
Source: 2016 Census

Work takes place in a conventional indoor office setting.

Career Pathways

Progression to managerial positions is possible with experience.

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

Aboriginal affairs
Adviser, family violence prevention
Analyst, labour market
Analyst, social policy / welfare
Assistant, psychology (except university)
Child-care programs
Citizenship / immigration
Community social development
Consultant, community policing
Consultant, employment equity
Consultant, immigration
Co-ordinator, correction rehabilitation
Co-ordinator, employment initiatives
Co-ordinator, women's programs
Counsellor, settlement
Demographics / multiculturalism
Employment insurance
Home economist
International aid and development
Organizer, community
Peace activist / peace researcher
Policy analyst, consumer
Policy analyst, employment equity
Policy analyst, family & child welfare
Policy analyst, integration - disabilities
Policy analyst, labour standards
Policy analyst, public assistance / housing
Policy analyst, status of women
Policy analyst, workers' compensation
Political organizer
Pollster
Program officer / planner, social service
Project officer, international aid
Public housing / social programs
Representative, field - housing
Research - social welfare
Researcher, international aid / development
Researcher, poverty
Researcher, public opinion survey
Researcher, social policy issues
Specialist, human rights
Specialist, international relations
Supervisor, Human Rights Comms'n officers

Education, Training and Skills

  • A bachelor's degree or college diploma in a social science or related discipline, or in business administration is usually required.
  • A master's degree in a social science or related discipline or in business administration may be required.
  • Home economists require a bachelor's degree in home economics, home economics education, human ecology, nutrition and food sciences or family and consumer studies.
  • Registration is available, but voluntary, for home economists but the use of the designation "Professional Home Economist" is regulated in New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, and "Registered Professional Home Economist" in British Columbia.
  • Certified immigration consultants must be registered members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Criminal Justice/Criminology
  • Social Work
  • History
  • Sociology
  • Women's and Gender Studies
  • Criminology/Criminal Justice
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!

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

70%
Critical Thinking

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

69%
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.

69%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

67%
Writing

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

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.

63%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

58%
Active Learning

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

56%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

56%

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

3,900
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 170 3.3%
Kootenay 100 2.4%
Mainland/Southwest 2,820 61.9%
North Coast and Nechako 30 0.9%
Northeast 70 1.3%
Thompson-Okanagan 330 6.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 1,150 23.9%
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)

1,830
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 100 0.6%
Kootenay 0 1.0%
Mainland/Southwest 1,130 1.3%
North Coast and Nechako 0 0.0%
Northeast 0 -1.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 100 1.4%
Vancouver Island/Coast 480 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
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Health Care and Social Assistance149,700
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services46,100
Finance, insurance and real estate50,900
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.