Specialists in Human Resources (NOC 1121)

What They Do Specialists in human resources perform some or all of the following duties: Advise managers and employees on the interpretation of personnel policies, compensation and benefit programs and collective agreements Research employee benefit and health and safety practices and recommend changes or modifications to existing policies. Plan, develop, implement and evaluate personnel and labour relations strategies including policies, programs and procedures to address an organization's human resource requirements Negotiate collective agreements on behalf of employers or workers, mediate labour disputes and grievances and provide advice on employee and labour relations Research and prepare occupational classifications, job descriptions, salary scales and competency appraisal measures and systems Plan and administer staffing, total compensation, training and career development, employee assistance, employment equity and affirmative action programs Manage programs and maintain human resources information and related records systems Hire and oversee training of staff Co-ordinate employee performance and appraisal programs

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Public administration 26% Other services (except public administration) 14% Management scientific and technical consulting services 7% Finance and insurance 7% Health care and social assistance 6% Specialists in human resources work in business/government. The unionization rate (37%) is close to the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of Specialists in Human Resources are found in Ontario and Quebec while the lowest concentrations are in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management (NOC 1122)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Developing communication skills (presentations, meetings, teamwork) Keeping aware of new accounting/economic developments

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 must complete either a university degree, or a professional development program or college diploma in personnel administration or a related field (business administration, industrial relations, commerce, psychology) and five years of experience. You may be required to gain experience in a clerical or administrative position related to personnel administration. With experience, you may move up the ranks to become a manager. One of the factors creating additional complexity in the skills required is the growing and changing body of law applied to human resources. You will be required to interpret and apply these laws and to keep pace with changes. Most recent entrants have an undergraduate univeristy degree and almost 2 in 5 have a community college diploma.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Commerce - Business Administration (M120) Commerce - Business Administration (U120) Elementary/Secondary Teacher Training (U230) Sociology (U880) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Career pathing Writing and presentation skills Computer literacy Team work		Useful High School Subjects English (Communication) Business 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 GOOD because: Employment grew at an average rate. The retirement rate is above average, and the number of retiring workers contributes to job openings. Hourly wages ($27.26) are above the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average. The unemployment rate (1%) is below the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Good   2009   Good

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be GOOD because: The employment growth rate will likely be above average because organizations should increasingly need specialists who can deliver training programs, occupational health/safety initiatives, and creative benefits packages. The retirement rate will likely be above average and the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition You're more likely to be hired if you can use computerized human resource systems. You'll increase your opportunities if you have knowledge of compensation/benefits, health/safety issues, and training programs.

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 $17.16 $11.74 25-54 $27.48 $19.76 55+ $29.90 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $27.26 $18.07		Hourly wages ($27.26) are above the national average ($18.07). These earnings are above average for occupations in the business, finance and administration sector and are close to average for all professional occupations. These wages grew at an 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

Below the average
The unemployment rate (1%) is below the 2004 average (7%). This rate is close to 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 5% 10% 1992 5% 11% 1993 3% 11% 1994 4% 10% 1995 2% 10% 1996 3% 10% 1997 3% 9% 1998 3% 8% 1999 2% 8% 2000 1% 7% 2001 2% 7% 2002 3% 8% 2003 2% 8% 2004 1% 7%

% of part-time work is about the same as average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 95% 81% Part-time 5% 19%		There were 61,300 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 88% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers is 5% compared to the 2004 average (19%) and has risen 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 6% compared to the 2004 average of 15% and has risen since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 6% 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 4% 10% 25-54 84% 72% 55+ 12% 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 older-than-average age (43) of worker will likely result in an above-average retirement rate to 2009.
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 (75%) is above the 2004 average of 48% and has risen significantly since 1997.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 75% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31