Couriers and messengers
Career Overview
Couriers and messengers pick up letters, parcels, packages, messages and other items and deliver them to homes, businesses and other establishments. People with these jobs work for local and global courier companies, corporate delivery services and other organizations. They may also be self-employed.
Job Titles
Duties
Couriers and messengers:
- Pick up messages, letters, envelopes, parcels, packages, cheques, securities and other items from customers and hand-deliver them within a set period of time
- Collect payment for items delivered
- Record deliveries
- Speak with customers and others that they meet on their route
- May drive a vehicle (car, van or truck) or ride a bicycle
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.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
4,975% Employed Full Time
55%People in this career do much of their work outdoors and experience different weather conditions. Some couriers and messengers walk or use bicycles to pick up and deliver items. Others may use a vehicle – which can range from a small car to a large truck – and at times may deal with busy traffic conditions. They interact with others, speaking with customers, people on their route and the dispatcher.
Work may be full-time, part-time or seasonal. Shift work may be required on nights and weekends.
Couriers and messengers use technology for many administrative tasks, such as mapping out deliveries, using GPS for directions and providing customers with proof of delivery. People with these careers must be comfortable using technology to record deliveries and document issues that may arise.
Career Pathways
With experience, there is the opportunity to move into dispatcher or supervisory positions. There may also be opportunities to work in other delivery occupations, as well as clerical occupations within the company.
Related Careers
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:
Education, Training and Skills
Couriers and messengers are generally required to:
- Have secondary school education
- Be bonded
- Be able to navigate busy streets and follow directions
- Be physically fit
- Have a valid driver’s licence for the type of delivery vehicle used
Education programs in B.C.
Top 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!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
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.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Convincing others to change their mind or behaviour.
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
4,975Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 100 | 2.0% |
| Kootenay | 115 | 2.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,225 | 64.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 55 | 1.1% |
| Northeast | 60 | 1.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 560 | 11.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 860 | 17.3% |
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 (2024-2034)
1,820Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | -0.7% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -0.9% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,320 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 3.7% |
| Northeast | 30 | 5.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 150 | 1.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 270 | 1.2% |
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
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,530 |
| Retail Trade | 90 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 60 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 40 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Good communication and time management skills are helpful for people in these jobs. The ability to remain calm under pressure is also considered an asset. Couriers and messengers, at times, need to get through heavy traffic, find parking and deal with road closures when delivering time-sensitive items. Having good customer service and people skills is useful when facing frustrated or angry customers.
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a courier.
Watch the video below to see what it's like to be a courier.
