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Taxi Driver

Taxi drivers operate automobiles and vans to transport paying passengers.

Also Known As

Driver

NOC Codes

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

  • 7413.1: Taxi and Limousine Drivers

2006 NOC-S

  • H713: Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs

2011 NOC

  • 7513: Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs

2016 NOC

  • 7513: Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs

2021 NOC

  • 75200: Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs

2023 OaSIS

  • 75200.01: Taxi and limousine drivers
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Taxi drivers charge passengers a fee based on the distance and time driven. In general, they:

  • Pick up or meet passengers in response to a dispatched call or a pre-arranged booking
  • Help passengers board or leave the taxi
  • Provide directions and information about the area, town, or city
  • Report to a central dispatcher by radio or computer monitor
  • Drive vehicles safely and efficiently to desired destinations
  • Collect fares and make change
  • Clean vehicles daily
  • Perform routine meter and vehicle maintenance checks such as checking tires and oil levels
  • Ensure that vehicles meet mechanical safety standards
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

Driving a taxi can be emotionally and physically demanding. Drivers work in all types of road and weather conditions. Some routinely lift luggage and other items weighing up to 20 kilograms.

Many drivers work 10 hours or more a day, often 6 days a week. Some drivers prefer to work night shifts because there is less traffic.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
R
Realistic
This occupation
You
E
Enterprising
S
Social
This occupation
You

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Your Work Personalities

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Taxi and limousine drivers
2023 OaSIS: 75200.01

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Taxi drivers need:

  • Interpersonal skills to be courteous and tactful when dealing with the public
  • Physical coordination and spatial awareness to safely operate a vehicle
  • Patience and coping skills for dealing with traffic and difficult passengers
  • Cleanliness (both personal grooming and the vehicle’s condition)
  • Awareness of passengers’ comfort and safety needs
  • Self-discipline

They should enjoy:

  • Driving
  • Having clear rules and guidelines for their work
  • Interacting with people

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.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs

2016 NOC: 7513

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 101 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Jul 30, 2023 and Oct 29, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Pick up passengers and drive them to destinations
Tasks: Collect fare
Tasks: Record transactions
Tasks: Assist passengers with luggage and in boarding vehicles
Tasks: Clean and make minor repairs to vehicle
Tasks: Provide pick up and delivery services on request
Tasks: Attend to complaints or difficult passengers
Tasks: Assist clients/guests with special needs
Tasks: Take vehicle for servicing
Reliability
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Minimum Education Varies

There are no standard education requirements, but taxi drivers must:

  • Have an Alberta Class 4 driver’s licence
  • Be able to speak clearly and provide good customer service
  • Have a thorough knowledge of local house numbering systems
  • Have a thorough knowledge of the locations of important buildings and landmarks
  • Have a municipal taxi permit and no criminal convictions (a criminal record check must be obtained from the police)

Some municipal taxi commissions require permit applicants to successfully complete a 2-day course for new drivers.

The municipality and individual cab companies monitor driver demerit points and moving convictions. Often, cab companies do not allow drivers to work if they have more than 6 demerit points.

For a list of driving schools in Alberta, please go to the Open Alberta website.

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.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Certification Not regulated

There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2024

 

Most taxi drivers are self-employed. Some drivers own their own vehicles. Others prefer to lease or rent a vehicle.

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.

Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
2016 NOC: 7513

75.1% 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.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation 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.

Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
2021 NOC: 75200
Hot
Job Market
5,900
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 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.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

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:

  • 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, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs
2016 NOC: 7513
4.6%
Annual Growth
(Above average)
223
New Positions

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.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Most drivers work on a flat rate per shift and may receive tips. The driver pays a certain amount per day or per week to the company. This covers the cost of using the cab and on-board computer. Revenues over that amount belong to the driver. Some drivers work part time or have other jobs.

Out of their earnings, owner-drivers must pay expenses such as gas, oil, repairs, car payments, and stand rent. This may leave little profit. Another option is to hire another driver to drive the cab on a second shift. This way, the car runs almost 24 hours a day.

Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Driver Training

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.

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