Job Seekers

Interested in a career in the printing and graphic communications industry?

While the current economic situation means that some printing companies are scaling down their operations, over the long-term there will be a need for adequately skilled people to work in the printing and graphic communications industry.

Can you imagine a world without print? Money, books, newspapers, concert tickets, cereal boxes and packaging – even your favourite soft drink can – life would be very different without printing.

Of the estimated 274,000 people working in the industry across Canada, many are approaching retirement age and this means that in the future company owners will need to recruit more staff.

But what they need are people who can work in an industry that is increasingly based on service, where every print job is unique and print company employees need to have a range of skills, including the ability to interact with customers and effectively use new technologies.

National Skill Standards
If you think you might be interested in a career in the printing and graphic communications industry, read our national Skill Standards to see what skills company employers want. You can also read profiles of different jobs to see which area of the industry might appeal to you and match with some of your existing interests and skills.

Education and training
The CPISC report on Education and Training Programs and Providers for the Printing and Graphic Communications Industry, includes a list of training institutions as well as an analysis of the type and scope of training programs currently available, which could help you choose a course that’s right for you.

Scholarship opportunity
The Canadian Printing Industries Association established the Canadian Printing Industries Scholarship Trust Fund in 1971 to support students in the industry.

The primary objective of the fund is to attract the most talented young people to the printing industry by providing financial assistance to them while they are enrolled in a graphic arts management or technical program. Find out more about applying for a scholarship here.