Property Assessor

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: Assessors (1235.1) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Assessors, Valuators and Appraisers (B115) 
• 2011 NOC: Assessors, valuators and appraisers (1314) 
• 2016 NOC: Assessors, valuators and appraisers (1314) 
• 2021 NOC: Assessors, business valuators and appraisers (12203) 

In general, property assessors:

• Inspect properties of all types including single-family dwellings, apartment buildings, shopping centres, recreational facilities, hotels, office buildings, farm land, petroleum sites, and other commercial and industrial sites and facilities
• Collect and analyze statistics and other information relating to the value of property or businesses, such as sales or rental income, construction methods and costs, and market conditions
• Determine market value assessments by applying mass appraisal and assessment techniques and principles, in accordance with the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and other pertinent regulations, legislation, and best practice publications
• Produce, defend, and maintain the municipal assessment roll
• Explain assessed values to property owners, municipal officials, and provincial auditors
• Defend valuations at assessment review boards

Property assessors must understand and keep current with rules, laws, and bylaws affecting property assessment and taxation. These can include:

• Provincial legislation and regulations
• Minister’s guidelines
• Municipal bylaws

Property assessors work in offices and in the field. They inspect property and improvements to validate data. They may need to travel a lot in urban or rural areas. Occasionally, they work long and irregular hours to meet deadlines and attend meetings.

In Alberta, municipalities are the primary employers and contractors of assessment services. They must appoint an assessor according to the Municipal Government Act. Small towns and municipalities often use the assessment services of private companies. Larger municipal districts, counties, and metropolitan centres may have their own assessment staff.

Property assessors also may work for the Government of Alberta or private industry. They may work in an assessor capacity for the Centralized Assessment of Industrial Property (CIPA) or as an assessment auditor who reviews municipal assessments. They also may become company tax representatives or move into related appraisal fields.

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 1314: Assessors, valuators and appraisers occupational group, 86.7% of people work in:

• Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and Leasing
• Public Administration

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 1314: Assessors, valuators and appraisers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.3% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 20 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 Assessors’ Association website: www.assessor.ab.ca

Appraisal Institute of Canada Alberta (AIC-AB) website: www.aicanada.ca/province-alberta/alberta

Canadian National Association of Real Estate Appraisers (CNAREA) website: cnarea.ca

International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) website: www.iaao.org

Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) website: www.reca.ca

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