Demographics

The Impact of Demographics

During the podcast episode, Shawn alludes to the impact demographics have on his career; this is evident when he refers to the population pyramid of Canada and the impact retirements will have on the workforce.
 

Shawn says that job openings for tenured professors will increase due to upcoming retirements. He points to the population pyramid of Canada, noting that it’s not actually a pyramid but a straight line. Let’s examine how demographics are an important factor when making career decisions.

The best source of current data on Canada’s demographics can be found at Statistics Canada.

The Canadian population is changing due to baby boomers getting older and immigration boosting numbers in the younger generations. These changes will have significant consequences, particularly on the labour market, services to seniors, and the consumption of goods and services” (Statistics Canada, 2022b, para. 1).

Two pages on the Statistics Canada website give job seekers insight into the impact that demographics will have on the labour market:

• A generational portrait of Canada’s aging population from the 2021 Census
• Age Pyramids

Let’s watch Lisa’s discussion on demographics’ impact on the labour market:

In what ways can you use demographics to inform your career decisions? Let’s look at this question from Mia and Ade’s points of view.

Reflection

There is a wealth of information if you are interested in more information on demographics. Consider connecting with your school or local library or discover some great resources on the internet. This is a fascinating topic; we’ve only explored a tiny tip of the iceberg.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

• Microsoft Copilot was used as a brainstorming tool for the fictional characters used in this chapter.