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Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors (NOC 1513)

High demand occupation

Table of contents

About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment

Workforce and employment statistics Job requirements Related careers Career paths and resources

About this job

Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors pick up and deliver letters, parcels, packages, newspapers, flyers and other items within and between organizations.

Want to learn more? Watch this WorkBC Career Trek video and see what it’s like to work in this type of career.

3:51

Courier

Source: WorkBC's Career Trek

People in this career group work for courier service companies and other establishments throughout the private and public sectors.

Common job titles

bank messenger / runner
copy runner, courier service
courier

courier, mail
delivery person - parcels / packages
delivery person, advertising / newspaper

distributor, bill / flyer / sample
handbill passer - courier service
messenger-clerk

paper boy / paper girl
runner

bank messenger / runner
copy runner, courier service
courier
courier, mail
delivery person - parcels / packages
delivery person, advertising / newspaper

distributor, bill / flyer / sample
handbill passer - courier service
messenger-clerk
paper boy / paper girl
runner

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$26,070

Source: 2017 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2017 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))

Provincial hourly rate

High
Median
Low

Source: 2017 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2018-2028)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

2018 - 2023
2023 - 2028

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 1,770

2018
2023
2028

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

New jobs due to economic growth:
33.1%
590 openings

Replacement of retiring workers:
66.9%
1,190 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Cariboo

Employment in 2018:

110

Average annual employment growth:

-0.1%

Expected number of job openings:

Kootenay

Employment in 2018:

160

Average annual employment growth:

0.4%

Expected number of job openings:

Mainland / Southwest

Employment in 2018:

2,270

Average annual employment growth:

1.5%

Expected number of job openings:

1,030

North Coast & Nechako

Employment in 2018:

Average annual employment growth:

2.0%

Expected number of job openings:

Northeast

Employment in 2018:

N/A

Average annual employment growth:

N/A

Expected number of job openings:

N/A

Thompson-Okanagan

Employment in 2018:

420

Average annual employment growth:

1.2%

Expected number of job openings:

200

Vancouver Island / Coast

Employment in 2018:

870

Average annual employment growth:

1.5%

Expected number of job openings:

410

N/A - Data not available

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors:

pick up messages, letters, envelopes, parcels, airline tickets, legal documents, packages, bonds, cheques, securities and other items from customers, and hand-deliver them to addresses within an organization or in other organizations by walking or cycling within specified time periods
collect payment for items delivered
keep record of items received and delivered using delivery information devices
deliver newspapers, flyers, handbills, telephone directories and similar items to residences and businesses

Work environment

An outdoor work environment with exposure to varied weather conditions.
An interior space such as a vehicle.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

4,000 workers are employed

40% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by gender

Men

Women

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by age group

15 - 24 years

25 - 44 years

45 - 64 years

65+ years

Source: 2016 Census

Labour force by industry

Transportation and Warehousing:

46%

Information, Culture and Recreation:

29%

Retail Trade:

11%

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:

Manufacturing:

View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

% employment of this occupation

% employment of all occupations

Cariboo

Kootenay

Mainland / Southwest

North Coast & Nechako

Northeast

Thompson-Okanagan

Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2016 Census

Job requirements

Education, training & qualifications

secondary school education may be required
eligibility for bonding may be required
ability to navigate streets and follow directions is usually required
physical fitness is required for some occupations in this group

Skills

Manual Dexterity
Motor Coordination
Spatial Perception
Social
Verbal & Written Comprehension

View skills definitions

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

Academic/Basic Upgrading

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.

Career paths and resources

Career paths

There is some mobility into other delivery occupations such as delivery drivers. Progression to supervisory positions may be possible with experience. There may also be mobility to clerical occupations within the company.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

Save this profile

Profile last updated:
December 11, 2018

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