Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers
Career Overview
Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers:
- Do research, develop policy and set up or manage programs in areas such as consumer affairs, employment, home economics, immigration, law enforcement, corrections, human rights, housing, labour, family services, foreign aid and international development
- Work in government departments and agencies, industry, hospitals, educational institutions, consulting establishments, professional associations, research institutes, non-government organizations and international organizations
- May be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Social policy researchers:
- Develop social programs, social legislation, or proposals based on the makeup of the population, social and economic analysis and the evaluation of pilot projects
Home economists:
- Do research, advise consumers on the selection and proper use of food products, textiles and other consumer goods
- Teach household management skills
- May also provide advice in the development and promotion of new food products, retail buying, social program management and small businesses
Housing policy analysts:
- Identify and assess economic, demographic, and social developments
- Report on their implications for housing policy
International aid and development project officers:
- Plan, organize and manage foreign aid and international development policies and programs
Social survey researchers:
- Develop questionnaires, coordinate and conduct surveys, analyse data, and compile and interpret statistics on social issues and policy areas
Social services planners:
- Do research, develop social programs, assess, coordinate and develop awareness of existing social services, and make sure that services are duplicated
- May also work with land use planners to determine the impact of major land use plans for transportation, housing and recreational facilities projects
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
4,995% Employed Full Time
66%Work takes place in a conventional indoor office setting.
Career Pathways
Progression to managerial positions is possible with 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
- A bachelor's degree or college diploma in a social science or related discipline, or in business administration is usually required
- A master's degree in a social science or related discipline or in business administration may be required
- Home economists require a bachelor's degree in home economics, home economics education, human ecology, nutrition and food sciences or family and consumer studies
- Registration is available, but voluntary, for home economists but the use of the designation "Professional Home Economist" is regulated in New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta, and "Registered Professional Home Economist" in British Columbia
- Certified immigration consultants must be registered members of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Criminal Justice/Criminology
- Social Work
- History
- Sociology
- Women's and Gender Studies
- Criminology/Criminal Justice
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.
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.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
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.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, while meeting the goals of the system.
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
4,995Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 90 | 1.8% |
| Kootenay | 30 | 0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 3,045 | 61.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 90 | 1.8% |
| Northeast | 45 | 0.9% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 320 | 6.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,375 | 27.5% |
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)
2,100Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 30 | 0.5% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,460 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | -1.0% |
| Northeast | 10 | -0.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 110 | 1.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 480 | 0.7% |
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 | 810 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 680 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 330 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 120 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 60 |
Resources
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Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a social policy consultant is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a social policy consultant is like.
