Human Resources Professionals

(NOC 1121)

in All Business, Finance, and Administration

Human resources professionals develop, implement and evaluate human resources and labour relations policies, programs and procedures and advise employers and employees on human resources matters. Human resources professionals work throughout the private and public sectors, or they may be self-employed.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Strong growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 165 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

  • Estimate 3555 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 9370 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

The outlook for human resources professionals is positive, as many companies have been increasing the resources dedicated to attracting and retaining talent. Jobseekers may benefit from considering consulting style roles, in which HR services are contracted to multiple companies, in addition to more traditional positions in-house with a single employer. Applicants with a less developed skillset may experience some difficulty in finding opportunities.

Hourly Pay

$18.03

Minimum

$32.97

Median

$49.45

Maximum

Annual Pay

$16,537

Minimum

$58,089

Median

$104,461

Maximum

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$23.00

Median

$38.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,754

Minimum

$36,515

Median

$70,271

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Human resources professionals develop, implement and evaluate human resources and labour relations policies, programs and procedures and advise employers and employees on human resources matters. Human resources professionals work throughout the private and public sectors, or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Human resources professionals:

  • Plan, develop, implement and evaluate human resources and labour relations strategies including policies, programs and procedures to address an organization's human resource requirements.
  • Advise managers and employees on the interpretation of human resources policies, compensation and benefit programs and collective agreements.
  • Negotiate collective agreements on behalf of employers or workers, mediate labour disputes and grievances and provide advice on employee and labour relations.
  • Research and prepare job classifications, job descriptions, salary scales and competency appraisal measures and systems.
  • Plan and administer staffing, total compensation, training and career development, employee assistance, employment equity and affirmative action programs.
  • Manage programs and maintain human resources information and related records systems.
  • Hire and oversee training of staff.
  • Coordinate employee performance appraisal programs.
  • Research employee benefit and health and safety practices and recommend changes or modifications to existing policies.

Sample job titles

  • compensation officer
  • disability case manager - human resources
  • employment equity officer
  • human resources specialist
  • industrial relations officer
  • labour relations specialist
  • mediator - labour relations
  • staff relations officer
  • staff training and development officer
  • union representative

Skills

  • You need good interpersonal skills as well as effective spoken and written communication skills. You should be organized and capable of analytical and logical thought. Negotiating skills and research skills are also important.

Job requirements

  • A university degree or college diploma in human resources management or a related field like business administration, industrial relations, commerce or psychology or completion of a professional development program in human resources administration is required.
  • Some employers may require human resources professionals to hold a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.

Other considerations

  • Increasing emphasis on achieving employment equity, meeting stricter standards in health and safety, and administering employee benefit packages will help create job opportunities for people in this group. Movement to management positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

1,610

employed in 2016

90.1%

employed full-time

5.3%

self employed

73.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
27%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
45.2

median age

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

63,775

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

73.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
26.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.9

median age

Where will I likely work?

68.9%

Halifax

$58,333 median annual income
10.2%

North Shore

$59,788 median annual income
9.9%

Annapolis Valley

$51,836 median annual income
6.8%

Cape Breton

$69,571 median annual income
4.0%

Southern

$46,047 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

20.4%

Public administration

11.8%

Professional, scientific and technical services

11.1%

Health care and social assistance

10.7%

Finance and insurance

10.0%

Other services (except public administration)

What is the age of Employment?

29.0%

45-54

26.0%

35-44

21.0%

25-34

17.0%

55-64

5.0%

65+

2.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

26.3%

45-54

22.6%

55-64

19.4%

35-44

16.7%

25-34

7.5%

65+

Top levels of education

43.3%

Bachelor

$56,693 median annual income
20.1%

College Diploma

$53,465 median annual income
11.5%

High school

$46,810 median annual income
11.1%

Master

$77,971 median annual income
5.0%

Diploma Above Bachelor

$64,709 median annual income

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

33.8%

College Diploma

$36,304 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$32,903 median annual income
22.8%

Bachelor

$41,755 median annual income
5.8%

Trade Certification

$34,807 median annual income
4.9%

Less than high school

$23,174 median annual income

Education & training

Business Administration and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Human Resources Development

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to apply integrated training, organizational development, and career planning and counselling skills to the design, management, and evaluation of programs to improve individual productivity, employability, and job satisfaction and organizational effectiveness. They include courses in psychology, organizational behaviour, principles of adult education, occupational counselling, skill testing and evaluation, program design, consulting practice, organizational development, and applications to issues such as training, management development, customer service, and total quality management.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Human Resources Management and Services

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to manage the development of human capital in organizations, and to provide related services to individuals and groups. They include courses in personnel and organization policy, human resource dynamics and flows, labour relations, sex roles, civil rights, human resources laws and regulations, motivation and compensation systems, work systems, career management, employee testing and assessment, recruitment and selection, managing employee and job training programs, and the management of human resources programs and operations.

Institutions providing this program

Eastern College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Island Career Academy

Sydney, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Psychology

College or University Program

These programs focus on the scientific study of individual and collective behaviour, the physical and environmental bases of behaviour, and the analysis and treatment of behaviour problems and disorders. They include courses in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Chartered Professional in Human Resources

Professional Designation: Professional designation exists and shows that the holder has met the standards for the job. Employers may require professional designation, but professional designation is not necessary to do this work.

Regulating body:
Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS

Contacts

Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS

Additional resources