If you want to future-proof your career, understanding the Canadian economic landscape is important. This is changing quickly and will continue to do so as the way companies leverage technology and AI evolves.
As a candidate, you’ll want to know the industries and jobs that are growing and evolving. You’ll also want to know the fastest-declining jobs in Canada. As one of the top recruitment agencies in Toronto, we’re always analyzing the industry and paying close attention to how things are changing over time.
Whether you are just starting your career or an experienced professional, being in a quickly declining job could put you in a precarious situation down the road. Below, we’ll list some industries and careers you may want to exit to improve your job security. Then I’ll talk about some things you can do if you work in a declining industry.
What Are The Fastest-Declining Industries In Canada?
Economic restructuring, changing consumer demands, and technological shifts continue to pressure several Canadian markets. A look at the latest industry revenue data from IBISWorld shows significant contractions across several legacy sectors:
- Lubricant & Other Petroleum Product Manufacturing: -5.6%
- Mining, Oil & Gas Machinery Manufacturing: -3.8%
- Wiring Device Manufacturing: -3.7%
- Jewellery Manufacturing: -3.4%
- Household Furniture Manufacturing: -3.3%
- Wired Telecommunications Carriers: -3.3%
- Shipbuilding: -3.3%
- Loan Administration, Cheque Cashing & Other Credit Intermediation Services: -3.0%
- Radio Broadcasting: -2.9%
- Coffee & Tea Production: -2.7%
What These Changes Mean for the Job Market
If you work in these industries, you want to take steps to future-proof your career. Industry revenue decline directly affects headcount. When a sector contracts, hiring slows, and organizations eliminate redundancies to protect margins.
For professionals in these sectors, the risk is real:
- Direct Impact: Operational, technical, and mid-management roles within these sectors face limited upward mobility and increased layoff risks.
- Indirect Impact: Supply chain partners, specialized vendors, and service firms tied to these ecosystems will feel the downstream pinch.
How to Take Action if You Work in a Declining Sector
If your industry is on this list, it is time to take control of your career path:
- Audit Your Core Competencies: Strip away industry-specific jargon from your resume. Focus on your transferable general skills like project management, problem-solving, and cross-functional leadership.
- Target Growth Adjacencies: Look at sectors where your functional experience creates immediate value. A supply chain lead in furniture manufacturing can transition into advanced manufacturing, retail, or CPG.
- Focus on Values and Culture: Leading companies hire for resilience, adaptability, and cultural alignment, not just years in a specific vertical. Prove how you solve problems in changing environments.
What Are The Fastest Declining Jobs?
The Canadian and US economies share a lot of similarities, and they tend to mirror each other to some degree. Often what happens in the US also occurs in Canada. Based on recent data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are some of the projected fastest-declining jobs from 2024 to 2034:
- Word Processors and Typists: -38.0%
- Roof Bolters (Mining): -32.3%
- Telephone Operators: -26.4%
- Switchboard Operators: -25.2%
- Data Entry Keyers: -25.0%
- Patternmakers (Metal and Plastic): -24.4%
- Telemarketers: -21.0%
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters: -19.2%
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters: -15.3%
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks: -15.1%
- Bank Tellers: -14.7%
What Is Driving the Decline?
The pattern behind these numbers is clear:
- Task Predictability: Roles focused on manual data entry, repetitive information routing, or scripted calls are being absorbed by automated workflows and AI platforms.
- Shift to Digital Self-Service: In-person banking transactions and operator-assisted communications continue to decline as end-users manage tasks directly via mobile applications and self-service portals.
- Industrial and Hardware Modernization: Advanced manufacturing, automated tool configuration, and changes in raw material extraction reduce the headcount required for manual fabrication and legacy equipment operation.
See the complete list for all declining occupations.
What Should I Do If I Work In A Declining Industry Or Job?
Seeing the job you plan to pursue or are currently working in on the above lists can be alarming. It could mean the threat of a job loss in the future. But there are things you can do to create a more secure career going forward:
- Alternative career options: Think about other career options. What skills and experience do you have that could apply to other jobs or industries?
- Reskilling: Consider adding new skills. What skills could give you more security in your current industry? What skills could you add to make a move to an alternative career?
- Further education: Is now the time to go back to school? Are there certain degrees, diplomas, or certifications that could help you be more employable?
- Connect with a recruiter: Reach out to a recruitment professional to get a sense of the career options available to you now and the things you can do to make a career move a few years from now.
A Final Word On The Changing Job Market In Canada
Change is the one constant in the Canadian job market. As some industries and jobs decline, new opportunities will also emerge. Take steps today to ensure you are primed for career success now and as things evolve in the coming years.
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