The Legal, Accounting, Architectural, Engineering and Design Services industry
employed about 28,600 Albertans in 2005. The industry is expected to grow by a
yearly average of 1.3 per cent, employing about 30,500 in 2010.
This information is based on Government of Canada statistics and projections for
the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) groups 5411, 5412,
5413 and 5414. They include companies that make specialized knowledge and skills
available to other organizations or to the public, often on a project basis:
- law offices, bailiff services, land/title search services and other legal
services
- accounting, auditing, tax preparation, billing and payroll processing
services
- architectural design, urban and park land use planning, landscape design,
golf course and ski area planning services
- chemical, civil, construction, electrical, engineering design and drafting,
geological, geophysical, industrial, mechanical, mining and petroleum
engineering services
- environmental services
- home inspection services
- aerial, cadastral, cartographic, geological, geophysical, geospatial,
hydrographic, land, magnetic and seismic surveying and mapping services
- electrical, environmental, fire, forensic, geotechnical, hydrostatic,
industrial, mechanical, metallurgical, pollution, product, radiation, seed,
soil, thermal and vibration testing laboratories and services
- interior design and decorating services
- industrial design services
- graphic art, design and illustration services
- fashion, jewellery, set and costume design services.
Industry Outlook (Adapted from Alberta Careers Update 2004)
In today’s increasingly competitive and complex business environment, the trend
is to use consulting firms to obtain specialized knowledge.
- Many types of specialized expertise will be needed in the future.
- Specialized advice for cross-border issues likely will be in high demand.
- Engineering consulting is expected to thrive as a result of resource-related
activities, warehousing, distribution, and light rail transit and road
construction.
Calgary is emerging as the national leader in wireless technology research and
development. This high-technology industry has a younger than average workforce.
The industry is expected to face several challenges:
- Engineers, land surveyors, accountants, and legal professionals and assistants
are in short supply. Hiring from out-of-province because of local shortages or
location mismatches has become a developing trend.
- Offshore contract companies are aggressively competing with Alberta
businesses.
- Technology continues to shift the type of work required, with added emphasis
on knowledge management. Multi-skilled workers will be in high demand.
- Lower income in the Agriculture industry could mean service companies that
support agriculture may see a decline in business
Work in this industry
Alberta occupational profiles that describe various types of work in this industry are listed in OCCinfo's Search by Industry: Professional and Technical Services
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