New professions popping up in workplaces

Jobs like zumba or yoga instructor, big data analyst and search engine optimization specialist are fast growing, new jobs that didn’t exist a decade ago and are most likely to be filled by younger workers, according to a study by Workopolis.

“It shows the evolution of technology and how quickly things are moving and how people and businesses need to adapt,” said Tara Talbot, vice-president of human resources at the online job site.

Other jobs that Workopolis said didn’t exist 10 years ago include online community manager, mobile applications developer, sustainability expert and elder-care services co-ordinator.

The non-technology jobs show a focus on the environment, health and wellness, Talbot said Tuesday.

While the technology-oriented jobs are more likely to be filled by those who have grown up in the digital age, it doesn’t mean that older workers can’t do them, she added.

For those who haven’t been keeping up with all of the new jobs, a zumba instructor gives dance-fitness workouts to Latin and international music. Workopolis didn’t have a salary available, but said a yoga instructor earns $45,000 yearly.

A big data analyst makes sense of personal information such as email, social media and other data on the Internet to get a picture, for example, of a consumer’s buying habits and earns between $72,000 and $96,000. Workopolis said a search engine optimization specialist, who helps companies increase their rankings and exposure on major search engines like Google and Yahoo, makes $75,000.

Other jobs that Workopolis said didn’t exist 10 years ago include online community manager, who would look after a company’s social media and can earn $45,000 to $65,000. A mobile apps developer for smartphones and tablets would pull in $72,500 to $102,750.

It didn’t have a yearly salary available for an elder-care services co-ordinator, but said a sustainability expert would earn between $61,000 and $72,000.

Workopolis said almost 300,000 jobs went unfilled in the second quarter of 2013, indicating there are opportunities for young professionals.

“The jobs aren’t always where the people are,” Talbot said from Toronto.

Canadians searching for work need to consider moving even if it’s for a contract job to get a “foot in the door,” she said.

Workopolis also said it has seen a 16 per cent growth in part-time positions and a five per cent increase in contract jobs year over year.

More traditional jobs such as administrative assistant, customer service representative, merchandiser and personal banking officer trainee are among the top 10 jobs that Workopolis said are most in demand by employers for students and new graduates.

But Talbot noted these occupations are using more technology than in the past.

For young people who might be getting discouraged about finding a job, Talbot offered this advice: “You can’t get sucked into the negativity” and suggested they find ways to “differentiate themselves and stick out.”