Dispatchers
Career Overview
Dispatchers:
- Use radios and other telecommunication equipment to dispatch emergency vehicles and to co-ordinate the activities of drivers and other personnel
- Work for police, fire and health departments; other emergency service agencies; taxi, delivery and courier services; trucking and utilities companies; and other commercial and industrial establishments
Job Titles
Duties
Dispatchers:
- Receive requests for emergency assistance or service and contact ambulances, police and fire departments, tow-trucks, and utility crews
- Process and transmit information and instructions to co-ordinate the activities of vehicle operators, crews and equipment using a variety of computer-aided communications and dispatching equipment
- Dispatch personnel according to written schedules and work orders, or as required by emergency situations
- Advise vehicle operators of route and traffic problems such as construction, accidents, congestion, weather conditions, weight and size restrictions and other information
- Operate radio equipment to communicate with ships, aircraft, mining crews, offshore oil rigs, logging camps and other remote operations
- Monitor personnel workloads and locations
- Maintain vehicle operator work records using computerized or manual methods and ensure time sheets and payroll summaries are completed accurately
- Maintain computer and manual records of mileage, fuel use, repairs and other expenses, and generate reports
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
3,455% Employed Full Time
66%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office or hospital.
Career Pathways
Career path information is currently not available.
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
- Completion of secondary school is required
- Police and emergency dispatchers are required to complete formal on-the-job training
- Other dispatchers usually undergo some informal on-the-job training
- Police and emergency dispatchers and other radio operators usually require provincial radio operator's certificates
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Academic/Basic Upgrading
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.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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
3,455Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 110 | 3.2% |
| Kootenay | 35 | 1.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,220 | 64.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 55 | 1.6% |
| Northeast | 70 | 2.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 390 | 11.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 565 | 16.4% |
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)
1,240Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | -0.3% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -0.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 790 | 1.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 2.1% |
| Northeast | 20 | 1.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 140 | 0.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 220 | 1.5% |
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) |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 440 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 340 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 110 |
| Construction | 100 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 50 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
