Career Overview
People in this occupation:
- Oversee and manage recreation, sports and fitness programs and activities
- Offer consultation, do research and develop programs and policies related to recreation, sports and physical fitness
- Work for federal, provincial and municipal governments, recreation, sports, fitness and health-care facilities, retirement homes, community centres, sports and fitness consulting firms and organizations
- May be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Exercise therapists:
- Give fitness tests and assessments, and design, develop and deliver rehabilitative exercise programs in occupational and related health settings
Fitness appraisers:
- Give fitness tests and assessments, and design, develop and deliver fitness counselling
Fitness consultants:
- Offer expert advice and consulting services to community groups, corporations, schools and other organizations in the design and development of fitness programs and activities
- May write proposals and press statements for corporations, industry and the fitness community
Kinesiologists:
- Run fitness and human movement tests and assessments
- Design and set up programs to maintain, rehabilitate or enhance movement and performance in the areas of sports, recreation, work and exercise
Recreation and sports program consultants
- Offer expert advice and consulting service to communities, corporations, institutions and other organizations in the design and development of recreation programs and activities
Recreation, sports and fitness policy analysts:
- Do research and develop government policies related to recreation, sports, fitness and athletic safety and standards
Recreation, sports and fitness program supervisors:
- Develop, plan and coordinate sports, fitness and recreation programs, and special sporting events
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
1,365% Employed Full Time
64%Work takes place in a conventional indoor office, fitness or recreational setting.
Career Pathways
Recreation, sports and fitness program supervisors may progress to recreation, sports and fitness management positions with experience.
Movement among recreation, sports and fitness consultants may be restricted within individual area of expertise.
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
- A university degree in recreation administration, sports administration, physical education, kinesiology or related discipline combined with some work experience in a related field
or
a college diploma in a recreation, sports or fitness program combined with some experience in a related field is required - Recreation, sports and fitness program supervisors require experience as program leaders or instructors in recreation, sports and fitness. Certification in program specialization, such as fitness or lifesaving, may also be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Human Kinetics/Kinesiology/Physical Education
- Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management
- Recreation Leadership Related
- Sports and Fitness Administration/Management
- Kinesiology/Physical Education/Sport

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!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
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.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
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
1,365Employment by Region
Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
---|---|---|
Cariboo | 30 | 2.2% |
Kootenay | 45 | 3.3% |
Mainland/Southwest | 765 | 56.0% |
North Coast and Nechako | 40 | 2.9% |
Northeast | 25 | 1.8% |
Thompson-Okanagan | 180 | 13.2% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 285 | 20.9% |
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)
720Forecasted 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 | 1.5% |
Kootenay | 10 | 1.8% |
Mainland/Southwest | 430 | 1.6% |
North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 1.4% |
Northeast | 10 | 1.1% |
Thompson-Okanagan | 90 | 2.1% |
Vancouver Island/Coast | 130 | 1.4% |
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) |
---|---|
Information, Culture and Recreation | 460 |
Health Care and Social Assistance | 140 |
Public Administration | 60 |
Educational Services | 30 |
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 30 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.