Thinking Sectors - Changing the way you see Occupations
by Jennifer McAlpine
Career Link LMI Specialist
Today’s national marketplace is changing at an exceptional rate; striking shifts in the economy, large-scale layoffs, recession, changing demographics, and the pace of technological advancements combine to add strain to an already competitive labour market. It is important that you as a job seeker are prepared to meet these challenges with the skills, knowledge, and confidence that are required to succeed in this new landscape.
To position yourself apart from the masses, try a relatively new approach: using sector information to strengthen labour mobility and transferable skills. A sector is an area of economic activity that produces well-defined products or services and that can be distinguished by the occupations, activities, and issues present. Examples of economic sectorsinclude: automotive; aviation; biotechnology; food; environment; mining; petroleum; and steel.
Trying to think in terms of sectors, instead of concentrating on an occupation title can be a little overwhelming at first. However, a sector tends to be more stable than an occupation – occupations change more quickly. When work roles become redundant, when layoffs decrease the number of workers, it is to your advantage to know of other types of work within that sector. Grouping different kinds of work roles (or occupations) within sectors can also help you see a wider scope of options and connect with more possibilities when exploring work options. A grouping of work roles involved in the automotive sector includes: sales (from parts to full vehicles); technicians; body repair; service advisors; teachers/trainers; and painters, for example.
In a grocery store, you may see clerks, managers, florists, cleaners, and meat-cutters. To continue your investigation, ask questions like the following:
- Who supplies the equipment, chemicals, and other supplies?
- Who maintains and repairs the equipment?
- Who created the processes used by the staff?
- Who disposes of the waste products?
- What kinds of skills, knowledge and behaviours would people need to perform in these various roles?
- What trends impact on the food industry?
Knowing what work roles are grouped within a sector is only one step to managing work search and work maintenance. Looking at the skills that cut across different jobs within a sector can assist you to find and maintain work. When duties and tasks change, when new technology takes over certain tasks, when a new challenge is needed, knowing which skills transfer to other work roles gives you an edge in career building. For assistance using sector thinking during your work search make an appointment to see a one-on-one career counsellor at Career Link today!
