Funeral Director

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

• 6272.1: Funeral Directors

2006 NOC-S

• G912: Funeral Directors and Embalmers

2011 NOC

• 6346: Funeral directors and embalmers

2016 NOC

• 6346: Funeral directors and embalmers

2021 NOC

• 62201: Funeral directors and embalmers

2023 OaSIS

• 62201.01: Funeral directors

Funeral directors manage the work of bringing the deceased to the funeral home and arrange for cremation or burial. They guide the deceased’s family or executor to explore options and preferences for final death care (that is, burial or cremation). They arrange ceremonies to recognize the life of the deceased at the funeral.

Funeral directors spend most their time dealing with families and handling legal paperwork. When working with families, they:

• Help with immediate legal, social, and emotional concerns
• Arrange commemoration services that fit with the social or religious practices of those involved
• Arrange the time and place of funerals, memorial services, or celebrations of life
• Get in touch with religious leaders or provide resource contacts for clients
• Work with the executor / family to make cemetery arrangements, as required

They provide information about funeral service options. They also maintain a display area for products and merchandise.

When arranging commemoration services, funeral directors juggle many moving pieces. They:

• Transport the deceased to the funeral home
• Fill urns, keepsake vessels, and jewelry remembrances with final cremated remains
• Contact the cemetery
• Arrange transfer services for the deceased, mourners, pallbearers, or religious leaders
• Oversee the progress of the funeral service

Funeral direction is a highly regulated profession. Funeral directors must be able to work effectively within the guidelines of legislation regarding disposition of human remains. They:

• Provide legal documents and filings to help the executor move into the process of settling the deceased’s estate
• Prepare funeral service contracts that follow directions provided by the deceased and their survivors
• File death certificates
• Obtain burial permits
• Prepare and file obituary notices

Many funeral directors are licensed embalmers as well.

Funeral directors often work long, irregular hours. This may include many evenings, weekends, and holidays. They work on-call since many funeral homes have 24-hour phone lines with a funeral director expected to be available day or night.

They work indoors and outdoors regardless of weather conditions.

Funeral directors may participate in transferring human remains into care. This requires heavy lifting and use of stretchers. They should be able to lift at least 34 kg.

Funeral directors work in funeral homes located throughout the province. They may need to relocate to a smaller rural community to complete work experience or apprenticeship requirements.

Funeral directors may use their business skills to transfer into related occupations such as cemetery manager or funeral celebrant. They may also work for funeral supply companies or teach.

Industry Concentration

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 6346: Funeral directors and embalmers occupational group, 98.9% of people work in:

• Other Services

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

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Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

• Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation
• Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, the 6346: Funeral directors and embalmers occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.6% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 39 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

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Funeral Service Association (AFSA) website: www.afsa.ca

Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board (AFSRB) website: afsrb.ab.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.