Authors and Writers (NOC 5121)

What They Do The following is a summary of the main duties of some occupations in this unit group: Novelists, playwrights, script writers, poets and other creative writers conceive and write novels, plays, scripts, poetry and other material for publication or presentation and may conduct research to establish factual content and to obtain 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 determine selling features of products and services and write text for advertisements and commercials. Authors and writers may specialize in a particular subject or type of writing.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Arts entertainment and recreation 39% Information and cultural industries 20% Public administration 15% Computer systems design and related services 6% Advertising and related services 6% Administrative and support waste management and remediation services 3% People in this group work in advertising agencies, governments, large corporations, private consulting firms, multimedia/new media companies, publishing firms, and other organizations. The unionization rate (19%) is below the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Authors and Writers are found in Ontario and British Columbia while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters (NOC 5125) Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications (NOC 5124) Editors (NOC 5122)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Continually updating specialized knowledge Improving interpersonal skills Learning business management Researching social trends

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need Educational requirements vary, depending on your specialization. To be a technical writer, you usually need a university degree in an area of specialization such as computer science or engineering. To be a copywriter, you usually need a university degree or college diploma in English, French, marketing, advertising or another field. To be a creative writer, you may want to take a creative writing program offered by a university or college. To succeed in this occupation, you need talent and ability, demonstrated by a portfolio of work, in order to be hired. You may also need to be a member of a guild or union related to the occupation. Almost 2 in 5 either have a community college diploma or an undergraduate university degree.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Mass Communications (C410) Applied Arts (U010) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Researching Writing Publications		Useful High School Subjects Journalism English (Composition) Family Studies Computer-related courses
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated FAIR because: Employement grew at an average rate. Hourly wages ($23.00) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is below average. The unemployment rate (5%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Fair   2009   Fair

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be FAIR because: The employment growth rate will likely be average because of an aging population interested in reading material. Although the retirement rate will likely be average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely exceed the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition You'll be competing with a large number of recent graduates. You're more likely to succeed if you have strong research/computer skills.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $12.56 $11.74 25-54 $23.82 $19.76 55+ $22.70 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $23.00 $18.07		Hourly wages ($23.00) are close to the national average ($18.07). These earnings are above average for occupations in the art, culture, recreation and sport sector and are below average for all professional occupations. These wages grew at a below-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Close to the average
The unemployment rate (5%) is close to the 2004 average (7%). This rate is above the average for professionnal occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 4% 10% 1992 6% 11% 1993 4% 11% 1994 3% 10% 1995 3% 10% 1996 4% 10% 1997 3% 9% 1998 2% 8% 1999 1% 8% 2000 2% 7% 2001 3% 7% 2002 6% 8% 2003 5% 8% 2004 5% 7%

% of Part-time work is above average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 74% 81% Part-time 26% 19%		There were 25,800 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 22% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers (26%) is above the 2004 average (19%) and has stayed about the same since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Above average
The percentage of self-employed workers (62%) is above the 2004 average of 15% and has stayed about the same since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 62% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 3% 10% 25-54 77% 72% 55+ 19% 12%		The relatively low percentage of younger workers suggests few entry-level job openings, and could point to a greater need for workers with experience or a number of years of training. The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be average reflecting the age/retirement structure of the occupation.
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Above average
The percentage of women (63%) is above the 2004 average of 48% and has stayed about the same since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 63% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31