The most in-demand jobs in 2023
The dynamics of the job market are constantly changing, influenced by various external and internal factors. As of mid-2023, here are some specific jobs and fields that are experiencing a surge in demand beyond the expected norm:
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Top fields of expertise right now
- Data Scientists and Analysts: As more organizations digitize their operations and gather huge volumes of data, the need for professionals who can analyze, interpret, and derive insights from this data is growing. Data scientists and analysts are in high demand across a variety of industries, from healthcare to finance to technology.
- Cybersecurity Professionals: With the rise in cyber threats and the increased reliance on digital infrastructures, cybersecurity has become a critical need for organizations of all sizes. Cybersecurity professionals, such as Information Security Analysts and Cybersecurity Engineers, are seeing a significant increase in demand.
- AI and Machine Learning Engineers: As AI technology becomes more advanced and widely adopted, there is a strong demand for engineers who can design and maintain AI systems. Machine learning, a subset of AI, is a particularly hot area of demand.
- Renewable Energy Technicians: With the global shift towards cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy, jobs in the renewable energy sector, like wind turbine technicians or solar panel installers, are rapidly growing in demand.
- Mental Health Professionals: The COVID-19 pandemic heightened the importance of mental health, creating a significant increase in demand for therapists, counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals.
- Supply Chain Specialists: The global pandemic highlighted the need for resilient supply chains. Specialists who can strategically manage and improve supply chain processes are increasingly in demand.
- Remote Learning Specialists/Educational Technologists: The move to remote learning due to the pandemic has continued to some extent even as conditions improve, driving demand for professionals who can manage and improve remote learning experiences.
- E-commerce Specialists: The surge in online shopping isn’t slowing down, creating a need for e-commerce specialists who can manage and optimize online retail operations.
These are just a few examples from our recruiters in Toronto and Southwestern Ontario, although the demand can vary by region and other factors. It’s also worth noting that many of these roles require specialized training or education, so individuals considering these fields should research the necessary qualifications and consider the return on investment of any required education or training.
The landscape for customer service-focused roles has also been hot.
Jobs with the Fastest-Growing Demand Compared to 2022(QoQ)
Roles with the greatest increase in paid job posts, Q1 2023 (Jan. 1 – Mar. 31, 2023) vs. Q4 2022 (Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2022)
- Patient Service Representative 2.2x
- Marketing Associate 2.1x
- Beauty Advisor 2.1x
- Home Health Licensed Practical Nurse 2x
- Customer Service Representative 2x
- Assembly Specialist 1.9x
- Application Engineer 1.8x
- Photographer 1.8x
- Operations Officer 1.7x
- Merchandise Associate 1.7x
More Interesting Job Trends Right Now
1 in 10 workers had a hybrid work arrangement in May
In May, 10.0% of workers had a hybrid work arrangement—that is, they usually worked partly at home and partly in locations other than home. This was little changed from the proportion recorded in December 2022 (9.6%)—the last time the data were collected—but up 3.7 percentage points compared with May 2022 (population aged 15 to 69, not seasonally adjusted).
As of May 2023, 14.4% of workers worked exclusively at home. This was little changed from December 2022 (15.8%) and down 4.8 percentage points from May 2022 (19.2%). In May 2023, over two in five (41.3%) workers in professional, scientific and technical services usually worked exclusively at home, the most of any industry. However, the proportion was down 9.4 percentage points from 12 months earlier (50.7%).
The proportion of workers who usually either worked exclusively at home or had a hybrid work arrangement was highest in Ontario (27.3%) and Quebec (26.2%). It was lowest in Saskatchewan (14.8%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (14.7%). These differences reflect a number of factors, such as variations in employment composition by industry, depending on the province. For example, professional, scientific and technical services accounted for 10.2% of total employment in Ontario in May, while it accounted for 4.7% of total employment in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Employment (slightly) down in the services-producing sector, led by business, building, and other support services
According to Statistic Canada in the May Labour Force Survey Employment fell by 40,000 (-0.3%) in the services-producing sector in May, following an upward trend from August 2022 to April 2023.
Employment in business, building, and other support services—which includes activities that support the day-to-day operations of organizations, ranging from waste management to administrative services—fell by 31,000 (-4.4%) in May. This brings the cumulative decrease for April and May in the industry to 45,000 (-6.2%), offsetting the increase recorded in March (+31,000; +4.4%).
In professional, scientific, and technical services, employment decreased 13,000 (-0.7%) in May, following four months of little change. This was the first monthly decrease for the industry since January 2022.
The number of people working in the “other services” industry—which includes a variety of services such as personal care and repair and maintenance—rose in May (+11,000; +1.5%), following little change in April and offsetting a decrease of 11,000 in March.
In the goods-producing sector, employment rose 23,000 (+0.6%) in May. Following seven months of little change, employment in manufacturing increased by 13,000 (+0.7%) in May. This increase in the month was concentrated in Ontario (+20,000; +2.5%). Nationally, employment in manufacturing was up by 46,000 on a year-over-year basis. Employment in utilities was up in May (+4,200; +2.7%) compared with the previous month.
Read More about Executive Search trends in Calgary, Toronto, and Southwestern Ontario.