Shippers and receivers in Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake

The employment outlook will be Good for shippers and receivers (NOC 14400) in the Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake region for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Demand for this occupation is driven by conditions in retail stores and wholesale trade which are currently tariff exposed and subject to economic cycles.
• Fulfillment centres and warehouses near urban areas have brought down delivery costs and times, leading to a demand for workers in this occupation. It is unlikely that the trend will reverse in the near term.
• The continued growth of e-commerce and distribution hubs will support demand for these jobs.
• Key trends for this occupation include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to forecast demand and inventory, to optimize routes, and select carriers based on real-time data and tracking. Connected sensors and cloud platforms enabling end-to-end supply chain visibility and tracking, and digitization of customs declarations is also increasing.

Here are some key facts about shippers and receivers in the Wood Buffalo - Cold Lake region:

• Approximately 280 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Shippers and receivers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Retail Trade (NAICS 44-45): 50%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 12%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 10%
  • Transportation and warehousing (NAICS 48-49): 8%
  • Professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 54): 8%