Discover How Canadian Industries Are Changing the World of Work

An industry is a group of businesses that do similar kinds of work. For example, all the farms in Canada are part of the farming industry, and all the companies that make software are part of the technology industry. You can learn more about how different types of work are organized by exploring Types of Work.

Industries in Canada have always changed over time. New tools, new ideas, and new inventions cause some jobs to grow while others disappear. Understanding how industries change helps you prepare for the future world of work.

Technology means tools, machines, and computers that help people complete tasks more quickly. In Canada today, technology is changing almost every industry. You can explore how technology affects work in Technology Impact.

Automation means using machines to do tasks that people used to do by hand. For example, robots in Canadian car factories weld and assemble car parts without a human doing each step. This makes production faster but also means some factory jobs have been replaced.

In the farming industry on Canada's prairies, large machines like tractors and combines now do work that farmers once did by hand. This means fewer workers are needed to produce more food than ever before.

When industries change, some old jobs disappear and brand new jobs are created. Jobs like telephone operators and elevator operators have mostly disappeared because technology replaced them. Meanwhile, new jobs like web designers, social media managers, and computer programmers did not exist 50 years ago.

The internet has also changed how Canadians shop. Many people now order products online and have them delivered, which has created new jobs for delivery drivers and warehouse workers. You can learn more about how goods move between people in Exchange of Goods.

When an industry is growing, it means more jobs and businesses are being created in that area of work. Canada's technology industry and clean energy industry are both growing quickly right now.

Canada's resource industry includes mining, oil, forestry, and fishing. These industries have always been important to Canada's economy. Today, they use advanced machines and technology, which means fewer workers are needed for some tasks. You can explore this further in Resource Industries.

The fishing industry on Canada's Atlantic coast has changed because of new fishing technology like sonar equipment, and because of government rules to prevent overfishing. The forestry industry now uses large machines that can cut and process trees much faster than before.

As industries shift away from coal and oil, renewable energy sources like wind and solar power are growing. This has created a whole new set of green jobs jobs that help protect the environment and reduce pollution. You can discover more about protecting resources in Sustainable Development.

Retraining means learning new skills so you can do a new kind of job. When automation or new energy sources change an industry, workers often need retraining to find new careers. This is sometimes called lifelong learning the idea that you keep learning new things throughout your whole life.

One of the most important skills for future workers in Canada is knowing how to use computers and digital technology. Being able to use computers, software, and the internet is useful in almost every industry today. Critical thinking the ability to solve problems and make careful decisions is another skill that will help you in many future jobs.

Remote work means working from home using a computer and the internet instead of going to an office. This became much more common in Canada in recent years and is now a normal part of many industries. You can explore how decision-making connects to work in Decision Making.

Industry: A group of businesses that do similar kinds of work. For example, all the fishing companies in Canada are part of the fishing industry.

Technology: Tools, machines, and computers that help people work faster and more efficiently. Computers and robots are examples of technology used in Canadian industries.

Automation: Using machines to do tasks that people used to do by hand. When a robot welds car parts in a factory, that is automation.

Renewable energy: Energy that comes from sources that do not run out, like wind and sunlight. Wind turbines and solar panels produce renewable energy.

Retraining: Learning new skills so you can do a different kind of job. Workers whose jobs change because of automation often need retraining.

Green job: A job that helps protect the environment and reduce pollution, such as working on solar panels or wind turbines.

Remote work: Working from home using a computer and the internet instead of going to an office.

Growing industry: When more jobs and businesses are being created in a certain area of work, that industry is growing.

Critical thinking: The ability to solve problems and make careful, thoughtful decisions at work or in life.

Lifelong learning: The idea that you keep learning new skills and knowledge throughout your whole life, not just in school.

In demand: When many employers are looking to hire people for a certain type of job, that job is in demand.

Resource industry: Industries that involve taking natural resources from the earth or water, such as mining, forestry, fishing, and oil.

You can look around your community and notice which industries are nearby. Are there farms, factories, stores, or technology companies? Think about how those businesses might use new technology. You can also explore Types of Jobs to learn more about the different kinds of work people do.

Try asking a family member or neighbour how their job has changed because of computers or new machines. You might be surprised to learn how much work has changed even in the last ten years. Connecting what you learn to real life helps you understand why industries keep changing.

You have already learned about Changing Workplaces and how the places where people work have shifted over time. You also explored Tools and Innovation, which showed you how new inventions change the way people work. Understanding Jobs in Communities helped you see the many roles people play in keeping communities running.

You learned about Goods and Services, which explains what businesses produce and provide. You also studied Important Inventions and New Ideas and Solutions, which showed how creativity drives change in industries. Exploring Changes in Daily Life and World Contributions helped you understand how changes in work affect everyday life around the world.

Changing industries connects to many other important topics you are studying. In Technology Impact, you explore exactly how computers and machines are reshaping the way people work across Canada. In Types of Jobs and Types of Work, you learn about the wide variety of jobs that exist and how they are organized.

Understanding Basic Economics helps you see why industries grow or shrink based on what people need and want. Exchange of Goods shows you how products move from businesses to people, which is changing because of online shopping. International Commerce connects to how Canadian industries trade with other countries around the world.

You can also explore Sustainable Development to understand how green jobs and renewable energy are part of protecting the planet. Resource Industries dives deeper into mining, forestry, and fishing in Canada. Decision Making helps you think about how workers and businesses make choices when industries change. Finally, Labor Systems and Economic Activities gives you a broader view of how work and economies are organized across different societies.