Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Industry

September 2008

The Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry employed about 146,300 Albertans in 2007. The industry is expected to grow by a yearly average of 3.2 per cent, employing about 171,300 in 2012. The 2007 unemployment rate was 1.7 per cent (the average for all industries was 3.5 per cent).

The Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry includes enterprises that make knowledge and skills available to other organizations or to the public, often on a project basis. For example, they may provide:

· legal services

· accounting and related services

· architectural, engineering and related services

· surveying and mapping services

· graphic, industrial or computer systems design services

· management, scientific and technical consulting services

· research and development services

· advertising, public relations or market research services

· translation services

· veterinary services.

Industry Outlook

Information adapted from the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Industry profile (September 2008)

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services are generating a large number of jobs in Alberta. In today’s increasingly competitive and complex business environment, operating a small business in knowledge based industries has become increasingly feasible with advances in the Internet and other communications technology. Increased types of specialized expertise will be in high demand.

Energy-related developments, as well as the Alberta Municipal Infrastructure Program, are keeping consulting engineers in high demand. Alberta’s Occupational Demand and Supply Outlook (2007-2017) forecasts supply shortages for civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers starting in 2009 through to 2017 and for technical occupations in computer and information systems throughout the forecast period. Managers in engineering, architecture, science and information also are forecasted to have a supply shortage every year from 2007 to 2017. Managers in financial and business services occupations will exceed supply starting in 2008.

Information adapted from Alberta Career and Industry Outlook (August 2008)

The industry creates many jobs and offers excellent opportunities for entrepreneurialism. Operating a small business in knowledge based industries has become increasingly feasible with advances in communications technologies enabling research, virtual meeting and remote worksites. Specialized expertise will be in high demand.

Among specific occupations, supply shortages are forecast for civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers; technical occupations in electronics and electrical engineering; and managers in engineering, architecture science and information. Thanks to growth in the energy sector, demand is also expected to remain high for consulting engineers.

Financial and business services managers can expect average growth for their occupations, though supply surpluses are forecast through 2016.

Alberta’s information, communication and technology sector continues to expand. The province will be investing $130 million with the goal of capturing a $20 billion market share of the world’s nanotechnology market by 2020.

Alberta-based accountants can expect more competition for work if financial reporting standards continue to move toward harmonization worldwide and local firms show no reluctance to hire professionals accredited in other countries.

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, Scientific and Technical Services