Job opportunities in Canada vs the UK

[johnjkjk]

I've been researching jobs in Canada but cannot tell what is in demand. A parliamentary report revealed that 60 per cent of skilled immigrants work at a lower occupational level than they did before moving to this country. I read a statistic that only a small percentage of engineer migrants ever gain a licence to practice and that many find it difficult to gain licensure. Manual, service or skilled technical jobs (electricians, technicians, programmers) seem to be in high demand. There seems to be little breath in field of work and sub-specialities in engineering, just based upon the dismal numbers of job advertisements etc. I've seen almost no jobs for interdisciplinary experts. The only jobs for Public health professionals seems to be working in low wage part-time jobs as a receptionist for a diet clinic, whereas worldwide they could be a high profile policy advisor or managing a big project for a biotech company looking for grants or Public Health consultant on the health service. Jobs for specialist engineers or engineering project managers in high technology seems only to exist in Quebec (lots of vacancies) but they must be French speakers. Indeed it seems that Montreal has a lot of engineering and high professional jobs but elsewhere in Canada (again just based upon job sites), there is only demand for engineers in petroleum, IT and hospitality.

In the UK (as a native), it's easy to find contract work in almost any profession, as long as you have some experience but full-time jobs are a bit harder to come by outside of big companies who hire on graduate schemes. Professionals willing to start in small companies can find stable employment and work up to being the equivalent of a chief engineer. Companies are willing to give high posts to less experienced people if they show talent. There is a lot of work available in specialised sectors and sub-specialities and a lot of work for those with interdisciplinary skills. You will never be unsatisfied with the breath of work available to match your experience, potential and interests. Global corporations are head-quartered here with cutting edge innovative projects. There are multiple opportunties for global postings. There is a lot of opportunity for self-employment and any and all types of business. Consultancy and contracting are huge. Sales and marketing in technical fields are also big business. Medical graduates have a guaranteed job for life. IT and networking are also big, particularly in managing outsourced work. Banking is big in London. Biotech and Pharmaceuticals is huge with the likes of GlaxoSmithKline. There is always a job for self-employed skilled tradesmen especially in construction, gas, plumbing etc. Public facing services are huge, especially if it involves PR, HR and administrative work. Accountants are rarely unemployed. How does this compare to Canada?

In Canada, if you're in engineering, public health, environmental sciences etc, what level of work are you doing? Is it big global projects with cutting edge technology, patent-worthy innovation, deep application of science, nation-level field work with good prospects for project management and leadership? Or is it more technical work like designing-to-spec, managing ongoing projects, retail, sales, inspection, installation and maintenance etc? What scope is there for interdisciplinary work (engineering and health) particularly in project management?

 

[nope]

Do you have a master's degree in public health with experience? Because if you do, you're probably aware that public health is generally a community-based field of nurses, pharmacists, and health educators working in local institutions. It is not a field, in Canada or elsewhere, of globe-spanning scientists battling at the boundaries of knowledge.

So what is your work experience and education?

 

[ttrajan]

Now job market is dull in Canada. Job wise UK is better than Canada.

 

[johnjkjk]

Do you have a master's degree in public health with experience? Because if you do, you're probably aware that public health is generally a community-based field of nurses, pharmacists, and health educators working in local institutions. It is not a field, in Canada or elsewhere, of globe-spanning scientists battling at the boundaries of knowledge.

So what is your work experience and education?

I'm not a Public Health professional, I'm an engineer specialising in health technology with interdisciplinary expertise and the public health enquiry was for some of my peers.

I would greately appreciate if anyone could respond to my questions above regarding the type and breath of work in Canada. Anyone wanting to know more about the UK- I could give you a good introduction to various industries and the market situation. Someone here must be able to do this for Canada?

 

[treasuredone]

I'm not a Public Health professional, I'm an engineer specialising in health technology with interdisciplinary expertise and the public health enquiry was for some of my peers.

I would greately appreciate if anyone could respond to my questions above regarding the type and breath of work in Canada. Anyone wanting to know more about the UK- I could give you a good introduction to various industries and the market situation. Someone here must be able to do this for Canada?

@johnjkjk, I've often wondered what the present industry is like job-wise for HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) practitioners in the UK. Could you please shed some light on the prospects in this particular time in the UK? Thanks

 

[johnjkjk]

@johnjkjk, I've often wondered what the present industry is like job-wise for HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) practitioners in the UK. Could you please shed some light on the prospects in this particular time in the UK? Thanks

It depends upon where you're from, your qualifications and experience and the industry you're interested in, to be able to put things into perspective for you. In general the environment aspect is considered to be separate but it depends on the industry you are interested in- construction and the built environment/ Health and safety at the workplace/ occupational/ railway and heavy industry/ product development etc. There really is a huge range of industries and occupations involved and each has its own trend and prospects (depending on how well the industry is doing) so it would help to shed more light on your situation and specific interest. Here's some useful links:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_and_Safety_Executive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSHCR

Many health and safety regulations are derived from EU law and there is at present some uncertainty as to what will happen going forward, but there are some unique industries and circumstances in the UK which I can shed light on, again depending upon your circumstances.

 

[treasuredone]

It depends upon where you're from, your qualifications and experience and the industry you're interested in, to be able to put things into perspective for you. In general the environment aspect is considered to be separate but it depends on the industry you are interested in- construction and the built environment/ Health and safety at the workplace/ occupational/ railway and heavy industry/ product development etc. There really is a huge range of industries and occupations involved and each has its own trend and prospects (depending on how well the industry is doing) so it would help to shed more light on your situation and specific interest. Here's some useful links:

Many health and safety regulations are derived from EU law and there is at present some uncertainty as to what will happen going forward, but there are some unique industries and circumstances in the UK which I can shed light on, again depending upon your circumstances.

@johnjkjk
Many thanks for this feedback!

 

[treasuredone]

@johnjkjk, my HSE work experience has been in the downstream sector of the Oil & Gas industry in Africa.

I've got a bachelor's degree in Geography and a NEBOSH UK International General Certificate qualification with number of other local certifications / training. I've got 7 years of HSE hands-on experience and I'm very open to a change of industry if necessary i.e, construction, heavy industries etc.

Though, not directly HSE-related (save for the training function), I also have a certificate qualification in Training Practice & Human Resources Management from University of Leicester.

 

[johnjkjk]

@johnjkjk, my HSE work experience has been in the downstream sector of the Oil & Gas industry in Africa.

I've got a bachelor's degree in Geography and a NEBOSH UK International General Certificate qualification with number of other local certifications / training. I've got 7 years of HSE hands-on experience and I'm very open to a change of industry if necessary i.e, construction, heavy industries etc.

Though, not directly HSE-related (save for the training function), I also have a certificate qualification in Training Practice & Human Resources Management from University of Leicester.

What kind of job roles are you seeking e.g. regulatory, occupational, product development, risk management, policy development, labour/union coordination, assessment and certification, education and training, management and supervision etc.

Generally the more regulated the sector, the more secure HSE is in that sector. There is still some oil and gas activity in the North Sea and there may be positions available which directly match your skills and experience- no harm looking at job adverts to get an idea of this.

Assuming roles that centre more on the regulatory and risk management aspect of things, construction is not doing very well at present, people are being laid off. Large contracting companies may hire in-house expertise but in this economic climate you may increasingly find contract roles (6/12/+ months), which would be a better bet. Contracting is usually well paid but expect to have to move. It can also help build your professional profile towards a consultancy position, but it depends on what you're looking for. You may find that a more hands-on operational role is more suitable.

There may be a wider range of roles available in less specialised industries in more occupational roles and at the management level. If you have a project management and other such training such as what you have highlighted from Leicester, you may well find a lot of roles in building safety management (corporates, large universities, any business with a lot of site and assets to manage). Are you registered with the OSHCR? The UK remains very strong overall in consultancy in all sectors; there are large international consultancy businesses based out of the UK through which you may be sent to offer consultancy globally, perhaps even back to Africa, but you may prefer working for a British consultancy. These will be based in London and the South East, but as well as in some of the other larger metropolitan areas. I cannot say whether Brexit will have any impact on this but everyone is predicting that regulations will remain harmonised.

A cursory job search will give you a good idea of the roles, locations and salary available.

I presume that you are British. If you're not, it's virtually impossible to get a work permit and there is no instant PR and the skilled route has been shut down. If you're from the EU, you'd want to look to move to the UK by next year.

 

[colasa17]

I have recently got the Permanent Residency for Canada . I already have a decent job in the UK and If I continue to work , I would be eligible for UK Permanent residency next year . I was looking to leave my job here and move to Canada this year for good.

But after reading all these comments , I am having cold feet . As they say "if it ain't broke don't fix it" !

 

[ttrajan]

Yes. You need to stay 2 out of 5 years in Canada to keep your PR.

 

[erode]

I have recently got the Permanent Residency for Canada . I already have a decent job in the UK and If I continue to work , I would be eligible for UK Permanent residency next year . I was looking to leave my job here and move to Canada this year for good.

But after reading all these comments , I am having cold feet . As they say "if it ain't broke don't fix it" !

i think you 'd better to keep your job and work in UK .why really you want to move to canada? even geographically UK is at heart of Europe making travel on vacations much cheaper .for instance just a simple trip outside of canada even to a state in US costs you 2 or 3 times more than what you pay in EU.and job market is not that much good at all in canada.

 

[erode]

wow ,that is amazing and appealing job market in UK,we cannot compare it with canada at all.immigrants come to canada find just survival jobs ,i know lots of people citizen of canada and with a university degree from canada who cannot find jobs other than survival .my friend studied social work in canada and he was born in canada but works in funeral home!!!!!!that is shocking .but also amazing as you said about job market in UK .never waste your time for coming to canada .

 

[erode]

especially do not forget the benefit of multi national corporations and small firms from other countries having bases in UK ,they might be very rare in canada .do not forget that you benefit from mild European weather and you do not experience extreme chili wind and massive snow almost 7 months of the year.in some provinces even till may you still have snow ,and just 2 summer months .in UK mostly cloudy but it does not bother,you can work out which is magnificent chance.i think the more we get away from London ,the rent is cheaper as well,correct me if i am wrong.thanks for your info

 

[johnjkjk]

especially do not forget the benefit of multi national corporations and small firms from other countries having bases in UK ,they might be very rare in canada .do not forget that you benefit from mild European weather and you do not experience extreme chili wind and massive snow almost 7 months of the year.in some provinces even till may you still have snow ,and just 2 summer months .in UK mostly cloudy but it does not bother,you can work out which is magnificent chance.i think the more we get away from London ,the rent is cheaper as well,correct me if i am wrong.thanks for your info

The UK is a great place. However do bear in mind that doors are closed for immigrants. It used to be possible to stay on after completing a degree, but this is no longer possible. Recent example from the media- an Australian family with Scottish ancestry living in Scotland for many years, their son's native language is Scots Gaelic, but they are set to be deported because of strict immigration rules.