Job prospects Help Desk Agent, Technical in Newfoundland and Labrador

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "help desk agent, technical" in Newfoundland and Labrador or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for User support technicians (NOC 22221) in Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few 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.

A large number of user support technicians work as customer service representatives in call centres providing technical computer-related information for incoming inquiries. Cloud computing, which offers a cluster of on-line information technology services, is expected to impact the demand for in-house support technicians. The increasing use of remote desktop connections and virtual desktops that make computers easily accessible may also lead to offices moving in-house IT workers/departments into centralized service hubs. There continues to be some demand for well-rounded user support technicians with both technical and non-technical skills, including strong communication and client-service skills. Given the rapid changes in technology, it is important for those in this occupation to continue to develop and update their skill set.

Here are some key facts about User support technicians in Newfoundland and Labrador:

• Approximately 1,150 people work in this occupation.
• User support technicians mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 23%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 13%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 11%
  • Universities (NAICS 6113): 9%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 88% compared to 83% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 12% compared to 17% for all occupations
• 79% of user support technicians work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 56% and 43% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 40 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of user support technicians are self-employed compared to an average of 8% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 78% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 22% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 8% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 56% compared to 23% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 28% compared to 14% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 7% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Newfoundland and Labrador by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "help desk agent, technical" User support technicians (NOC 22221) or across Canada.

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