Bachelor of Commerce (Digital Marketing) - Postsecondary ...

In the Kitchener‐Waterloo‐Barrie‐Guelph area employment potential was limited at the time of
the forecast in 2010 and expected to remain limited in the short term. The decline in
manufacturing and slowing of trade with the United States has reduced job prospects in these
occupations in the area. In the longer term, however, employment opportunities will be created
by retirements since about half of those employed as Financial Auditors and Accountants are
over 45 years of age.
In the Windsor‐Sarnia area employment prospects were expected to be good for the next
several years. In the Windsor‐Sarnia area, the older age of those in this occupational category
(over 30% of Financial Auditors and Accountants are nearing retirement) increases employment
prospects. As well, although most auditors and accountants are employed in professional
services, manufacturing and government sectors provide other sources of full‐time
employment.
Interview Findings
Current Shortages
Employer interviews provided further insights into current needs for accounting professionals within the
local labour market. Employers were presented with nine specific accounting occupations and asked to
indicate whether shortages currently existed, and the size of the shortage, using a six‐point scale from 0
(no shortage) to 5 (extreme shortage). Table 2 indicates that the majority of employers were unable to
respond to questions about specific occupational shortages. Among employers who offered an opinion,
overall mean scores suggest that none of the nine accounting occupations was considered to be in
significant undersupply. 28
More than 80% of employers indicated shortages for the positions of Taxation Specialist and Budget
Analyst, and slightly fewer reported shortages for Cost & Management Accountant (Figure 4). Shortages
were perceived to be greatest for Taxation Specialist and Cost & Management Account, with more than
one‐third of the employers who responded to this question ascribing shortage ratings of 4 or 5. More
moderate shortages were described for Budget Analyst. About three‐quarters of respondents identified
shortages for the occupations of Treasurer and Financial Analyst, including one‐quarter who perceived
significant shortages (ratings of 4 or 5). Close to two‐thirds of respondents perceived shortages for
Financial Accountant/Controller, and about 60% for Auditor and Self‐employed Accounting Professional.
Accounting Clerk was the occupation least likely to be considered in short supply – fewer than half of
respondents indicated shortage, and those who did usually described the shortage as minor.
28 Mean scores were calculated on the basis of all respondent rankings (from 0 to 5), excluding “Don’t know”.
LKSB Degree Program Feasibility Study • 2011
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