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Authors and writers (NOC 5121)

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

Authors and writers plan, research and write books, scripts, storyboards, plays, essays, speeches, manuals, specifications and other non-journalistic articles for publication or presentation.

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

Authors and writers may be self-employed or work for:

  • advertising agencies
  • governments
  • large corporations
  • private consulting firms
  • publishing firms
  • multimedia/new-media companies
Common job titles
  • author
  • biographer
  • crossword puzzle maker / compiler
  • writer, media - radio / TV / multimedia
  • writer, news - feature writer / columnist
  • writer, novelist / playwright / poet
  • author
  • biographer
  • crossword puzzle maker / compiler
  • essayist
  • ghost writer
  • lexicographer

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$61,233

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 (2021-2031)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2021 - 2026
  • 2026 - 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 2,090

  • 2022
  • 2026
  • 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
47.1%
980 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
52.9%
1,100 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 2021:
90
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
-1.2%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
10
Kootenay
Employment in 2021:
60
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
3.0%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
40
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2021:
3,460
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.9%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
1,390
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2021:
40
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.8%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
20
Northeast
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2021:
320
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
2.5%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
180
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2021:
1,130
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.3%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
450

N/A - Data not available

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Novelists, playwrights, script writers, poets and other creative writers:

  • create and write novels, plays, scripts, poetry and other material for publication or presentation
  • may conduct research to establish factual content and to get other necessary information

Technical writers:

  • analyze material, such as specifications, notes and drawings, and write manuals, user guides and other documents to explain clearly and concisely the installation, operation and maintenance of software and electronic, mechanical and other equipment

Copywriters:

  • study and identify selling features of products and services and write text for advertisements and commercials

Special duties

Authors and writers may specialize in a particular subject or type of writing.

Work environment

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a conventional indoor office setting.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

4,400 workers are employed
37% 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

Information, Culture and Recreation:
66%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
17%
Educational Services:
4%
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services:
3%
Manufacturing:
2%
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

Workers entering this field typically begin their employment in entry-level positions. These positions may involve work in public relations, marketing publicity, website editing or writing in the public sector or non-governmental organizations.

With experience, workers may progress to supervisory and management positions, such as editor-in-chief or managing editor at large newspapers, magazines or publishing houses.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

Profile last updated:
March 25, 2021
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