Job prospects Software Design Engineer in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "software design engineer" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231) in British Columbia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

The computer technology sector is a major economic contributor in the province. While most of the employment in this sector is in the Metro Vancouver region, both Victoria and the Okanagan are emerging as tech hubs.

While activity in the sector was subdued in 2024, investment activity is expected to increase as interest rates decline.

Here are some key facts about Software engineers and designers in British Columbia:

• Approximately 22,500 people work in this occupation.
• Software engineers and designers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 51%
  • Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 16%
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 8%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 6%
• 79% of software engineers and designers work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 7% of software engineers and designers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 83% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 17% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 7% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 9% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 52% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 31% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "software design engineer" in British Columbia or across Canada.

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