Currently the unemployment rate for younger workers in Canada is roughly double the national average – at over 13%. However, a disproportionate share of the high youth unemployment rate is concentrated among young people aged from 15 to 16.

The outlook is actually much better for the 18-24 year-olds who are included in that youth demographic. At the end of 2014, the unemployment rate for youth from 20 to 24 years-old was 10.4%. This is actually nearly 2% below the historical average for this group. (Source: TD Economics.)

We at Workopolis spent much of 2014 researching the link between education and jobs. That’s because Canadians are spending more time in school than ever before, and many people are questioning whether or not these added credentials are paying off on the job market.

Of course, there are many reasons to go to school beyond just getting a job. And your education can be beneficial to your career even if it’s not directly related to the job you’re in. Which is good because most people end up working in unrelated fields: 73% of people surveyed told us their degrees are not relevant to their jobs. (39% not at all related, and 34% not directly related.)

Still, if you are planning your studies specifically for the current job market, there are those fields where workers are so much in demand that graduates are snapped up as soon as they receive their credentials.

Here are the most advertised jobs on Workopolis for candidates right out of school without experience:

  • Registered Nurse (Average wage: $72,000/year) [View jobs]

  • Personal support worker (Average wage: $32,000/year) [View jobs]

  • Business Analyst (Average wage: $75,000/year) [View jobs]

  • Financial advisor (Average wage: $64,000/year) [View jobs]

  • Physiotherapist (Average wage: $71,000/year) [View jobs]

  • Marketing coordinator (Average wage: $48,000/year) [View jobs]

  • Pharmacist (Average wage: $84,765/year) [View jobs]

  • Accountant (Average wage: $59,000/year) [View jobs]

  • Occupational therapist (Average wage: $73,000/year) [View jobs]

  • Human Resources Assistant (Average wage: $44,720/year) [View jobs]

Salary data from Statistics Canada

Although the job market remains sluggish in some parts of the country, and landing that first job can be a challenge for younger workers, employers are actively seeking entry-level candidates.

Here are the 13 essential skills most often listed in Canadian entry-level job descriptions. Be prepared to work collaboratively! Being a ‘team player’ turns up in 93% of all job ads for entry-level positions.

Source: Thinkopolis V Education Nation.

See also:

The university degrees that earn the highest starting salaries
Study: Where can that liberal arts degree take you on the Canadian job market right now?
So what can you do with that English degree?

– Peter Harris

– Peter Harris on Twitter