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Business and Tourism Development Manager, Business / Community Development Officer, Director of Economic Development, Economic Development Coordinator, Economic Development Researcher, Investment Attraction Manager, Tourism and Economic Development Officer, Tourism Marketing Officer
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.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
There are many different job descriptions, duties, and responsibilities relating to economic development officers. Each provincial association of economic development has a list of members, a code of ethics, and standards of expectations for economic developers.
Depending on their needs, a community may employ an economic development coordinator or officer. This person liaises between the administration, municipal council, economic development committee, business development organizations (such as the chamber of commerce), and the community.
The duties of an economic development officer can range from coordinating, running, and supervising economic development programs to matching business investment opportunities with investors. This job is about creating an environment where business and investment can thrive.
In general, economic development officers:
Economic development officers work in an office setting, as well as remotely. They often are out in their community areas, attending council and committee meetings and community events. They may work longer than the usual 40-hour week. They may need to travel if their work involves attracting and growing business investment, with activities such as making presentations, attending trade shows or conducting tours for potential investors. Economic development officers may spend long periods sitting at a computer or attending meetings.
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 co-ordinating information to plan development projects with representatives of a wide variety of industrial and commercial enterprises, business associations and government agencies, and to develop strategies to attract venture capital; and in administering programs to promote industrial and commercial business investment and tourism
Interest in developing policies and programs to promote industrial and commercial business investment in urban and rural areas, and in developing social and economic profiles of urban and rural areas to encourage industrial and commercial investment and development
Interest in consulting to advise on procedures and requirements for government approval
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.
Economic development officers 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 336 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Mar 26, 2024 and Dec 21, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Develop policies | 242 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Develop and implement business plans | 229 |
| Tasks: Respond to enquiries from members of the business community concerning development opportunities | 215 |
| Tasks: Develop marketing strategies | 206 |
| Tasks: Design market research questionnaires | 201 |
| Tasks: Plan development projects | 190 |
| Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years | 173 |
| Tasks: Conduct surveys and analyze data on the buying habits and preferences of wholesale and retail consumers | 165 |
| Tasks: Review and evaluate commercial or industrial development proposals | 156 |
| Attention to detail | 152 |
Economic development officers must know about local industries, businesses, and municipal land-use and planning legislation. Employers may require a post-secondary degree related to economic development, such as business administration, urban planning, marketing, market research, communications, economics, or political science, or equivalent years of experience in the field of economic development. Many employers consider the certified economic developer (Ec.D) designation an asset.
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 program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
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.
Economic development accreditation (preferably a designation) or courses that lead to accreditation are an asset.
Voluntary certifications include:
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Economic development officers work in many sectors of the economy. But they most often work for:
Experienced economic development officers may advance to senior or management positions. Those with enough experience may go on to become private consultants.
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.
Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants
2016 NOC: 4163
79.7% of people in this occupational group work in:
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 examples, see Note.
This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
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 examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
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 examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
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 | $24.15 | $86.05 | $41.50 | $37.31 |
| Overall | $24.59 | $91.35 | $49.95 | $47.70 |
| Top | $29.33 | $120.19 | $59.90 | $50.98 |
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
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $98,311 |
|---|---|
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $151,081 |
| Construction | $114,540 |
| Manufacturing | $107,500 |
| Wholesale Trade | $73,452 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $153,563 |
| Information, Culture, Recreation | $111,349 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $107,164 |
| Educational Services | $75,767 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $92,646 |
| Public Administration | $90,486 |
Economic Developers Alberta website: www.edaalberta.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2024. 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.
