Over one third of the Canadian population resides in its three largest cities (Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver), but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a wealth of job opportunities available to expats in rural Canada. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of it!
You may assume that the city will be the best option to secure a well-paid job when you make the move to Canada. Contrary to popular belief, there are actually lots of employment opportunities in rural communities, mainly in the primary industries: mining, agriculture and forestry. Working here can be just as lucrative as obtaining a job in the city, and of course you can also benefit from the lower cost of living, lower property prices and seemingly endless space. Canada is the second largest country in the world, and with just under 30,000,000 million fewer people living there than little old Britain its natural wonder is largely unspoilt.
The Canadian mining industry is one of the largest in the world, employing over 370,000 workers.
Mining industry
The Canadian mining industry is one of the largest in the world, employing over 370,000 workers throughout the country and indirectly employing a further 190,000 people. The majority of jobs can be found in mineral extraction, smelting, fabrication and manufacturing. Those who work in mining receive the highest wages and salaries of any industrial sector in Canada, with average annual pay exceeding $115,000 – the average earnings of workers in forestry, manufacturing, finance and construction range from $32,000 to $43,000.
Depending on which part of the Canadian great outdoors you are heading to, the employment opportunities in the mining sector can differ. For example, on the prairies in the province of Alberta, oil is a huge industry.
You can search for jobs in the mining industry on the Info Mine website and on Indeed.
Forestry is a huge part of the Canadian way of life.
Fishing industry
The fishing industry is the lifeblood of many coastal and lakeside – Canada is home to four of the ten largest lakes in the world – communities in Canada, providing over 120,000 jobs across the country. With a turnover of around $5 billion a year, the domestic commercial fishing industry is one of the most valuable in the world. Lake Winniepeg, for example, is home to 3,600 fishers who produce 25% of Canada’s freshwater catch.
You can search for jobs in the fishing industry on the Government of Canada website, the Workopolis website and through the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters website
Around 42% of Canada is covered by forests.
Forest industry
Any country that has a maple leaf as its national symbol is bound to have a close affinity with trees, and they have plenty to choose from. With around 42% of Canada covered by forests – 10% of the world’s forested land – their economic, social and environmental importance cannot be underestimated. The 230,000 forest industry workers ply their trade across three main industry subsectors: solid wood product manufacturing, pulp and paper product manufacturing and forestry and logging. The latter conjures up stereotypical images of a lumberjack wielding their axe, but it is the solid wood product manufacturing sector which contributes most to the Canadian economy.
You can search for jobs in the forest industry on the Canadian Forests website and the Find a Forestry Job website.
If you’re making the move, you should speak to a currency and payments specialist about how to get money sent to you in Canada. We recommend Smart, ranked highest on Trustpilot for money transfer and currency exchange. [LINK to smart quote]
Agriculture industry
Canada is one of the largest agricultural producers and exporters in the world. The industry comprises five main sectors of production: grains and oilseeds, livestock (red meats), dairy, horticulture and poultry and eggs. Agriculture and agri-food contributes over $110 billion annually to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). Around 80% of the country’s farmable land is located in Western Canada, on the prairies of areas such as Saskatchewan and Alberta.
The industry offers a variety of exciting careers in a number of disciplines across the country. You can search for jobs on the Government of Canada website and AG Careers.
The Canada Buying Guide takes you through each stage of the property buying process, with practical recommendations from our experts who have been through the process themselves. The guide will help you to:
