Religious leaders
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Ministers of religion:
- Run religious services
- Give the rites of a religious faith or denomination
- Provide spiritual and moral guidance and perform other functions associated with the practice of a religion
- Work in churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship
- May also work in other institutions such as schools, hospitals and prisons
Job Titles
Duties
Ministers of religion perform some or all of the following duties:
- Conduct regular religious services
- Administer rites of faiths such as marriages and funerals
- Pray and promote spirituality by delivering sermons and other talks
- Provide spiritual and moral guidance to members of a religious faith
- Supervise, plan and administer programs of religious education
- May participate in humanitarian endeavours, social services and welfare activities
- May share in the administrative and financial operation of a religious community
- May provide consultation services to government and other organizations
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
4,390% Employed Full Time
70%Work takes place in an office setting.
Career Pathways
Counsellors usually become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.
Progression to social service management positions is possible with additional training and experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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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
- Educational requirements vary, depending on the religion, and range from the completion of a college or other program in religious studies to a master's of divinity degree
- A period of study with a senior minister is usually required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Religious Studies Related
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.
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.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Teaching others how to do something.
Convincing others to change their mind or behaviour.
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
4,390Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 185 | 4.2% |
| Kootenay | 125 | 2.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,750 | 62.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 95 | 2.2% |
| Northeast | 65 | 1.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 535 | 12.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 635 | 14.4% |
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)
1,920Forecasted 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 | 0.1% |
| Kootenay | 40 | 0.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,340 | 2.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 0.2% |
| Northeast | 40 | 1.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 240 | 1.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 200 | 0.8% |
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) |
|---|---|
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 1,830 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 40 |
| Public Administration | 20 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 20 |
| Educational Services | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
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