U.S. Archive
Canadian ArchiveApril 2011
I was reading an article the other day that talked about camcorders. Apparently some types of camcorders have gone from cutting-edge hot properties to antiques in just four years. Four years! There is stuff in my fridge older than that. The world changes too fast.
It got me thinking, though: what if one of my former students had planned a career connected to camcorders? Four years ago, I would have thought this was a forward-thinking decision.
How can I predict the future of the labour market?
Sincerely,
Crystal Ball
Dear Crystal,
I completely agree about our changing world! It doesn't seem that long ago that tourists were hoisting camcorders the size of suitcases over their shoulders to record their family vacations. Now we see preschoolers running around with cellphones in the palms of their hands -- although perhaps the results have become more surreal as the technology has gotten smaller.
Film criticism aside, wouldn't it be great if we could predict exactly what the future holds? It might take the suspense out of the office hockey pool, but it would sure make choosing a career easier for today's students.
Although there may never be a surefire way to know what exactly will happen in each career, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada helps us eliminate much of the guesswork. Their employment projections look at past trends and current economic conditions in order to predict the future of the labour market. You'll find their predictions in the Salary and Outlook section of Choices Explorer's career articles.
Interpreting all this labour market information might seem like a lot of work for students who are just looking for something that interests them! Our article How to Interpret Labour Market Information can help them decipher the data and decide how to apply it to their career decisions.
After all, for some students, a stable job outlook is extremely important, while others prefer to take their chances and focus on different factors. It's like photography: some students use the latest technology, while others enjoy the artsier look of traditional black and white.
Looking for more detailed information on employment trends and hot opportunities for the future? Don't forget The Buzz section for regularly updated articles on current developments in the world of work.
My ability to predict the future is pretty limited -- still haven't chosen those winning lottery numbers. But I can tell you that I will be back next month!
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