Editors (NOC 5122)

What They Do Editors perform some or all of the following duties: Editors may specialize in a particular subject area, such as news, sports or features, or in a particular type of publication, such as books, magazines, newspapers or manuals. Evaluate suitability of manuscripts, articles, news copy and wire service dispatches for publication, broadcast or electronic media and recommend or make changes in content, style and organization Read and edit copy to be published or broadcast to detect and correct errors in spelling, grammar and syntax, and shorten or lengthen copy as space or time requires Confer with authors, staff writers, reporters and others regarding revisions to copy Plan and implement layout or format of copy according to space or time allocations and significance of copy Plan and co-ordinate activities of staff and assure production deadlines are met Plan coverage of upcoming events and assign work accordingly Write or prepare introductions, marketing and promotional materials, biographical notes, indexes and other text May negotiate royalties with authors and arrange for payment of freelance staff.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Information and cultural industries 65% Public administration 7% Administrative and support waste management and remediation services 6% Editors work for: Publishing firms Magazines, journals, and newspapers Radio and television networks/stations Companies and government departments that produce publications/web sites The unionization rate (28%) is close to the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Editors are found in Ontario and Bristich Columbia while the lowest concentrations are in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Managers in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport (NOC 051) Authors and Writers (NOC 5121)

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 You usually need a bachelor's degree in English, French, journalism or a related field. You usually need several years' experience in journalism, writing, publishing or a related field and may require membership in the Editors Association of Canada. With experience, you may move up the ranks to become a supervisor or manager, such as editor-in-chief or managing editor. Most recent entrants have 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). Graphic and Audio-Visual Arts (C060) English (U402) Mass Communications (U410) Mathematics (U740) Political Science (U860) *  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) Computer-related courses Social Studies A second language
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 above-average rate. Hourly wages ($23.54) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is above average. The unemployment rate (4%) 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 with demand increasing for reading materials popular with an aging population. 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 $14.10 $11.74 25-54 $23.59 $19.76 55+   $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $23.54 $18.07		Hourly wages ($23.54) 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 close to the average for all professional occupations. These wages grew at an above-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 (4%) 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 7% 10% 1992 4% 11% 1993 2% 11% 1994 2% 10% 1995 4% 10% 1996 8% 10% 1997 3% 9% 1998 4% 8% 1999 3% 8% 2000 3% 7% 2001 4% 7% 2002 6% 8% 2003 5% 8% 2004 4% 7%

% of part-time work is about the same as average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 82% 81% Part-time 18% 19%		There were 14,000 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 31% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers is 18% compared to 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.

Average
The percentage of self-employed workers is 21% compared to the 2004 average of 15% and has dropped significantly since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 21% 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 6% 10% 25-54 81% 72% 55+ 12% 12%		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.

Average
The percentage of women is 44% compared to the 2004 average of 48% and has dropped since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 44% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31