From April 1 to June 30, 2,053 jobs were posted in Greater Sudbury, according to Workforce Planning for Sudbury & Manitoulin.
Workforce Planning has been reviewing job data complied by Vicinityjobs to identify what industries are hiring and what types of occupations are in demand.
Vicinityjobs has a proprietary algorithm that scans reputable job posting websites such as Service Canada’s Job Bank, Monster, Workopolis, HR Careers and other sites including the websites of major employers in town.
According to Reggie Caverson, executive director of Workforce Planning for Sudbury & Manitoulin, the data provides a wealth of information.
"With all of the negative news we hear about layoffs, stagnant nickel prices and the impact on employment, the good news is that there are jobs out there,” said Caverson.
“In fact, 500 more jobs were posted this year when compared to last year’s data for the same time period.”
This year’s April-to-June data shows that the top six industry sectors that posted jobs included:
- Retail trade (department, furniture and specialty food stores, pharmacies and home centres)
- Health care and social assistance (hospital, home health care and community care facilities)
- Public administration (municipal, regional and provincial public administration)
- Accommodation and food services (no industry-specific data available)
- Professional, scientific and technical services (engineering, management, environmental and scientific/technical consulting)
- Manufacturing (mining, oil gas field, and tire manufacturing, boat building)
Types of occupations in demand varied in each industry, but more than one quarter of all jobs posted were clustered in sales and service. Sales and service led that way with 584 jobs posted, 115 of them in retail sales.
There were 178 in business, finance and administration, 174 in education, law, social, community and government services, 163 in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations, 145 in management, 124 in natural and applied sciences and related occupations, 116 in health, and fewer than 100 in other occupation categories. The remaining 499 occupations were unidentified.
When looking at types of occupations in demand, Caverson notes that it is not a surprise that jobs in sales and service continue to dominate although not all of these jobs are in the retail trade industry.
"There is a distinct divide between lower paid and lower skilled jobs (often found in sales and service occupations) versus highly specialized occupations such as engineering,” said Caverson.
Additionally, just over 160 trade-related jobs were posted, with construction millwrights and mechanics in highest demand with 24 jobs posted. In some postings, the name of an employer was included. Health Sciences North topped the chart by posting for 87 jobs, followed closely by the City of Greater Sudbury with 84 jobs, and Walmart with 39.
The data also showed that 39 per cent of jobs posted were full time and that there was a fairly even split between education and training requirements.
High school and occupation-specific training was called for with 23 per cent of jobs posted, 21 per cent required college, vocational or apprenticeship training and 20 per cent wanted a university education.
Caverson said that this new data will be shared with the local university and colleges, educators, government and employment services to help guide job-seekers, students, and programs being offered.
