Customs, ship and other brokers
Career Overview
Customs, ships and other brokers clear goods through customs and to their destination on behalf of importer and exporter clients. On behalf of clients, they also:
- Buy and sell cargo space on ships
- Buy and sell ships, yachts and other watercraft
This occupational group includes brokers, not elsewhere classified, who negotiate commercial transactions or other services between parties on behalf of clients.
People in this career group may be self-employed or work for customs, ship or other brokerage companies.
Job Titles
Duties
Customs brokers:
- Prepare and process import/export documents and other forms on behalf of clients according to customs regulations, laws and procedures
- Sign import/export documents on behalf of client, using power of attorney
- Arrange for payment of duties, taxes, storage and transportation of imported goods and bonds to cover duty goods
- Estimate duty and tax rates on goods for clients
- Provide advice to clients on export and import restrictions, tariff systems, letters of credit, insurance requirements and other custom related matters
- Represent client before administrative courts or in other dealings with government officials
Ship brokers:
- Buy and sell cargo space on ships on behalf of individuals, companies and governments
- Consult trade publications and other sources to provide information to clients on available cargo space, destinations, rates, departure locations and times, and arrange ship charters for clients
- Negotiate rates and terms and prepare contracts and other papers
- Buy and sell ships, yachts and other watercraft on behalf of clients
- Inspect vessels, explain features and negotiate price when purchasing or selling for clients
- Arrange for insurance coverage for cargo or for ships
- Arrange for registration and licensing of ships
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
670% Employed Full Time
74%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office, or an outdoor work environment where the worker is exposed to various weather conditions.
Career Pathways
There is no mobility between the different types of brokers in this unit group.
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
- Some post-secondary education in commerce or a related field may be required
- Customs brokers require several years of on-the-job training and completion of a customs brokers training program through the International Federation of Customs Brokers Association
- A customs broker licence, issued by the Canada Border Services Agency, is required for an individual or company to operate a customs brokerage business
- Shipbrokers selling cargo space on ships usually require several years of on-the-job training or related experience such as shipping company scheduling experience. Shipbrokers selling watercraft usually require in-depth experience with, and knowledge of, various watercraft
- Correspondence courses from the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers are available for shipbrokers
Education programs in B.C.
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!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
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.
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.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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
670Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 560 | 83.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 15 | 2.2% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 30 | 4.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 55 | 8.2% |
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)
300Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 240 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 4.0% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 20 | 5.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | 1.9% |
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) |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 260 |
| Retail Trade | 30 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
Career Videos
Watch the video below to learn what a typical day is like for a customs broker.
Watch the video below to learn what a typical day is like for a customs broker.
