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Professional occupations in religion (NOC 4154)

High opportunity occupation
Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment Workforce and employment statistics
Job requirements Work-related skills Related careers Career paths and resources
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About this job

Ministers of religion:

  • run religious services
  • give the rites of a religious faith or denomination
  • provide spiritual and moral guidance and perform other functions associated with the practice of a religion
  • work in churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship
  • may also work in other institutions such as schools, hospitals and prisons
Common job titles
  • archbishop
  • archdeacon
  • bishop
  • imam
  • minister - religion
  • moderator - religion
  • archbishop
  • archdeacon
  • bishop
  • cardinal
  • chancellor - religion
  • chaplain

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$53,475

Source: 2020 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2020 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: 2020 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2019-2029)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2019 - 2024
  • 2024 - 2029

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 1,490

  • 2019
  • 2024
  • 2029

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
30.9%
460 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
69.1%
1,030 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2019:
200
Average annual employment growth(%) 2019-2029:
0.7%
Expected number of job openings 2019-2029:
50
Kootenay
Employment in 2019:
200
Average annual employment growth(%) 2019-2029:
0.1%
Expected number of job openings 2019-2029:
50
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2019:
3,110
Average annual employment growth(%) 2019-2029:
0.6%
Expected number of job openings 2019-2029:
750
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2019:
130
Average annual employment growth(%) 2019-2029:
0.3%
Expected number of job openings 2019-2029:
20
Northeast
Employment in 2019:
110
Average annual employment growth(%) 2019-2029:
2.6%
Expected number of job openings 2019-2029:
50
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2019:
580
Average annual employment growth(%) 2019-2029:
1.0%
Expected number of job openings 2019-2029:
210
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2019:
760
Average annual employment growth(%) 2019-2029:
2.0%
Expected number of job openings 2019-2029:
350

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Ministers of religion perform some or all of the following duties:

  • conduct regular religious services
  • administer rites of faiths such as marriages and funerals
  • pray and promote spirituality by delivering sermons and other talks
  • provide spiritual and moral guidance to members of a religious faith
  • supervise, plan and administer programs of religious education
  • may participate in humanitarian endeavours, social services and welfare activities
  • may share in the administrative and financial operation of a religious community
  • may provide consultation services to government and other organizations.

Work environment

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in an office setting.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

4,600 workers are employed
60% 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

Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services:
92%
Health Care and Social Assistance:
3%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
1%
Educational Services:
1%
View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2016 Census

Career paths and resources

Career paths

Counsellors usually become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.
 
Progression to social service management positions is possible with additional training and experience.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

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Profile last updated:
March 25, 2021
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