Job prospects Courier Van Driver in Prince Edward Island

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "courier van driver" in Prince Edward Island or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Prince Edward Island

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very good for Couriers and messengers (NOC 74102) in Prince Edward Island for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

The prospect for employment in this occupation is expected to be favorable as the pandemic forced many businesses and organizations to alter the way they do business, becoming increasingly more digitalized and automated. Retail e-commerce sales, for example, increased throughout the pandemic with more retailers turning to online sales. Further, this trend towards online shopping, as well as other virtual services, will support job opportunities in this occupation over the forecast period.

 Couriers and messengers work primarily for courier companies. Although technological advances such as fax machines, scanners, and email have reduced demand for these workers, the need for hard copies of certain documents and same-day receipt of particular items continues to sustain employment. Couriers and messengers are expected to work in all kinds of weather and may be exposed to dangerous working conditions related to traffic, especially in urban centres. Some employers expect workers to supply their own equipment, which can include appropriate clothing, a bike, a smartphone with internet access, and delivery bags.

Here are some key facts about Couriers and messengers in Prince Edward Island:

• Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Couriers and messengers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Postal service, couriers and messengers (NAICS 491, 492): more than 95%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 87% compared to 84% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 13% compared to 16% for all occupations
• 61% of couriers and messengers work all year, while 39% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
• 20% of couriers and messengers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 88% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 12% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 19% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 48% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 7% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "courier van driver" Delivery and courier service drivers (NOC 74102) or across Canada.

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