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Hot jobs in Canada’s oil and gas industry

November 27, 2013

Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, tests, and related workers take the top spot on CareerBuilder’s list of “hot jobs” for the Canadian oil and gas industry released today, with a 33 percent increase in jobs since 2010 and median hourly earnings of $27.71.

“Job growth across North America in the oil and gas industry continues to outpace other industries, and the trend is expected to continue into 2014 and beyond,” said Brent Rasmussen, president of CareerBuilder North America. “The rapid employment growth is leading to challenges for employers as they struggle to close the skills gap caused by lower graduation rates in oil and gas related programs. While filling high skilled jobs is top of mind, there is also an abundance of positions in support roles that only require on the job training.”

The “hot jobs” for the Canadian oil and gas industry, based on the increase in jobs within the sector between 2010 and 2013, and the median wages for this type of occupation, include:

1. Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, tests, and related workers
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 2,800, up 24 percent
Median hourly earnings: $33.78

2. Oil and gas well drilling workers and services operators
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 2,741, up 33 percent
Median hourly earnings: $27.71

3. Supervisors, oil and gas drilling and service
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 1,962, up15 percent
Median hourly earnings: $37.30

4. Primary production managers (except agriculture)
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 1,861, up 45 percent
Median hourly earnings: $48.53

5. Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related laborers
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 1,641, up 30 percent
Median hourly earnings: $24.14

6. Truck drivers
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 1,448, up 35 percent
Median hourly earnings: $20.10

7. Heavy equipment operators (except crane)
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 1,307, up 39 percent
Median hourly earnings: $24.60

8. Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 983, up 69 percent
Median hourly earnings: $32.58

9. Underground production and development
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 826, up 19 percent
Median hourly earnings: $28.78

10. Administrative officers
Change in jobs (2010-2013): 713, up 31 percent
Median hourly earnings: $21.43

CareerBuilder.ca and Economic Modeling Specialists International’s study draws from EMSI's labor market database, which includes data from a range of government sources including the Census; the Labor Force Survey; and the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours.