Toll Free 1-877-644-9992
There was an error. Please try again.
This page is already listed in your guide. Please choose a different page to add.
Conflict Resolution Specialist, Dispute Resolution Specialist, Legal Arbitrator
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in researching employee benefit programs and health and safety practices to recommend policy changes and modifications, and in planning staffing, total compensation, training and career development, employee assistance, employment equity and affirmative action programs
Interest in co-ordinating information to administer staffing, total compensation, training and career development, employee assistance, employment equity and affirmative action programs; in co-ordinating employee performance and and appraisal programs, in managing programs and maintaining human resources information and related records systems; and in hiring and overseeing training of staff
Interest in negotiating collective agreements on behalf of employers or workers; in mediating labour disputes and grievances, providing advice on employee and labour relations, and in advising managers and employees on the interpretation of personnel policies, compensation and benefit programs and collective agreements
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Arbitrators have responsibilities similar to those of judges, but their “courtroom” can be anywhere. The place and arbitrator are usually chosen by the disputants (the people involved in the dispute).
In general, arbitrators hold an initial meeting with disputants to outline the arbitration process and establish guidelines. They then settle procedural matters such as meeting locations and arbitration fees. They also:
Unlike other dispute resolution practitioners, only arbitrators produce a result that can be filed with the court and enforced as a court order.
Arbitration may be used to resolve disputes between parties including:
Arbitration is recommended over taking a dispute to court when:
Arbitration can be formal or informal, depending on the circumstances and the wishes of the parties. Arbitrators may conduct hearings in boardrooms, hotel conference rooms, on construction sites, or anywhere else that is acceptable to all parties. This can include using digital means such as Zoom, Teams, and WebEx. Hearing dates and times are negotiated by the parties or set by the arbitrator at the beginning of the process.
Arbitrators need:
They should enjoy:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Feb 26, 2022 and Mar 21, 2023.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Plan, develop, implement and evaluate human resources policies and programs | 74 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Research and prepare occupational classifications, job descriptions and salary scales | 65 |
| Attention to detail | 60 |
| Tasks: Co-ordinate employee performance and appraisal programs | 59 |
| Tasks: Advise managers and employees on the interpretation of human resources policies, benefit programs and collective agreements | 58 |
| Tasks: Research employee benefits and health and safety practices and recommend changes | 54 |
| Tasks: Hire, train and supervise staff | 54 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 52 |
| Tasks: Negotiate collective agreements on behalf of employers or workers | 48 |
| Tasks: Administer benefit employment equity and other human resources programs | 44 |
Although many arbitrators have a professional background, there are no specified minimum education requirements. However, arbitrators need:
Expertise related to the nature of the dispute is often an asset.
In Alberta, the following organizations offer mediation, negotiation, and conflict management training:
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
The ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) offers the designation Chartered Med-Arbitrator (C.Med-Arb.) to members who have the prescribed levels of training and experience. Members with appropriate training and experience can also apply to the International Mediation Institute (IMI) for the Qualified Arbitrator (Q.Arb.) designation, which indicates they have been practising at an intermediate level.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Arbitrators often work in other occupations and contract their services as arbitrators when they are needed. Generally, arbitrators are hired on a one-off basis. An arbitrator hired by one party on a regular or recurring basis may be thought of as biased in favour of that employer.
When people agree to take their dispute to arbitration, they must find a mutually acceptable arbitrator, preferably someone who has:
Where parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta will appoint one. Parties may also agree to have an institution such as ADRIA or ADRIC appoint the arbitrator.
Disputants may obtain a directory of arbitrators and mediators from the ADRIA or ADRIC.
Procedures for appointing arbitrators vary. Disputing parties may choose a single arbitrator or a panel of 3 arbitrators.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 1121: Human resources professionals occupational group, 76.1% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 1121: Human resources professionals occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 212 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Arbitrators’ fees are negotiated with disputants at the beginning of the arbitration process and vary greatly. Sometimes arbitrators volunteer their time. Arbitrators who are lawyers, engineers, accountants, or other professionals usually charge fees in line with their other professional fee structures.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $21.63 | $60.36 | $36.60 | $34.83 |
| Overall | $25.64 | $66.13 | $43.66 | $43.60 |
| Top | $27.85 | $77.39 | $51.63 | $50.69 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $105,964 |
|---|---|
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $99,973 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $89,764 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $86,410 |
| Public Administration | $86,184 |
| Manufacturing | $81,926 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $81,920 |
| Educational Services | $79,142 |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $74,765 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $74,109 |
| Retail Trade | $72,099 |
| Construction | $70,907 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $58,546 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $41,630 |
ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC) website: adric.ca
Alberta Arbitration and Mediation Society (AAMS) website: canadamodern.org/alberta-arbitration-and-mediation-society
National Family Law Arbitration Course website: nflac.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 17, 2023. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
