Canada's Best Careers Guide, 1994-1995

Genevieve Cherwinski is a co-operative education and family studies
teacher in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

This book, which provides practical information on career prospects,
begins with an overview of the social, technical, economic, and
political changes that are expected to occur by 2005. Feather uses a
six-wave historical model to explain how careers have changed in
agriculture, industry, personal services, information technology,
leisure, and outer space, and to show how over time a decline in
agriculture led to increased employment in industry, which was followed
by a decline in industry, which resulted in more jobs in personal
services. In 1994, information technology became the leading employer.
Currently, leisure-related activities are part of the fastest-growing
wave. The book also provides information on the regional differences
that exist in employment opportunities (southern Ontario—specifically
Toronto—is still considered the place for employment), and predicts
the growth and decline of careers for the period 1995–2005.

Like most authorities in the field, Feather stresses the importance of
lifelong learning and the need for a broad range of skills. He
anticipates that few Canadians will retire at age 65 (instead, they will
move to less demanding, but no less challenging, employment) and that
job satisfaction will become considerably more important than financial
success to future job-seekers. He offers a fresh approach to career
planning.