Professional occupations in business management consulting
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
These professionals help organizations improve their performance, solve complex problems and achieve strategic goals. They analyze the structure, operations, managerial methods and/or functions of organizations to propose, plan and support improvements.
People in this group are employed by management consulting firms, in public and private sector organizations or are self-employed.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, business management consultants focus on:
- Strategic Planning: Advising organizations on long-term growth, market positioning and competitive strategy
- Operational Efficiency: Streamlining processes, reducing costs and improving productivity
- Organizational Change Management: Helping with transformations, such as mergers, acquisitions, restructuring and cultural change
- Technology & Digital Transformation: Putting new technologies in place and improving IT systems
- Financial Advice: Giving insight into budgeting, risk management and financial performance
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
12,475% Employed Full Time
59%Work usually takes place in conventional controlled environments, such as offices, hospitals or schools.
Business management consultants often travel to clients’ locations to assess organizations’ operations and structures.
Career Pathways
A unique aspect of the business management consulting career pathway is its flexibility. People enter the profession at many different stages of their careers and with diverse backgrounds. They can start directly in the field as recent graduates or transition from other industries.
Many consultants begin as business analysts or associates, while others with specialized knowledge may enter at senior levels as managers or subject matter experts.
Entry-Level (analyst/consultant)
- Recent graduates or professionals transitioning into consulting
- Focus on research, data analysis and problem-solving under senior consultants' guidance
Mid-Level (senior consultant/manager)
- Leads client engagement, manages project teams and develops strategic recommendations
- Usually requires 3-7 years of experience
Senior-Level (Director/Partner/Principal)
- Leads business development, client relations and strategy
- Must have deep industry and leadership experience
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Business management consultants usually need to have a bachelor's degree or college diploma in business administration, commerce or a related discipline.
Business management consultants may also need:
- A graduate degree in business administration
- Certification as a quality auditor (in some occupations)
- Certification through the Canadian Association of Management Consultants (CMC-Canada)
Occupations in health information management consulting may need to be certified by the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). Those working in finance or engineering may need a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) or Professional Engineer (P. Eng) designation. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is also useful in some roles.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Business Administration/Management/Commerce
- International Business
- Marketing
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
12,475Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 115 | 0.9% |
| Kootenay | 165 | 1.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 9,115 | 73.1% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 80 | 0.6% |
| Northeast | 20 | 0.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 810 | 6.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 2,165 | 17.4% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
5,200Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 40 | 0.3% |
| Kootenay | 50 | 0.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,870 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | -0.5% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 320 | 1.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 910 | 1.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 2,810 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 430 |
| Public Administration | 350 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 330 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 190 |
Insights from Industry
The management consulting industry is expected to see steady growth in the coming years. This trend is driven by digital transformation, data analytics and cybersecurity needs, as well as regulatory changes, globalization and retirements.
Technological advancements are reshaping the consulting landscape and business management consultants are now expected to have expertise in emerging technologies and data management. In particular, artificial intelligence (AI) is used in consulting to automate tasks, improve decision-making and increase productivity. This allows consultants to focus on higher-level strategy and innovation.
Continuous learning, adaptation and ongoing professional development is important for both current and early career business management consultants.
Most opportunities are concentrated in the Mainland/Southwest region of B.C.
Resources
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Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP)www.acmpglobal.org
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Canadian Association of Management Consultants (CMC)www.cmc-canada.ca/home
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Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA)www.echima.ca/
