Job prospects Operator, Urban Transit in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "operator, urban transit" in Alberta or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Alberta

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators (NOC 73301) in Alberta for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Employment in this sector is closely linked to population growth and increased tourism activity.
• Alberta continued to see record population growth in 2024, which will support employment opportunities in the near term.
• In 2024, the Government of Alberta unveiled a long-term strategy to grow Alberta's visitor economy from $10 billion in annual spending to $25 billion by 2035.
• Enrolment in elementary schools has been increasing and under the School Construction Accelerator Program, the provincial government plans to add 50,000 new spaces for students over the next few years, which will create more opportunities for drivers.

Here are some key facts about Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators in Alberta:

• Approximately 11,700 people work in this occupation.
• Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485): 73%
  • Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 11%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 60% compared to 80% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 40% compared to 20% for all occupations
• 38% of bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators work all year, while 62% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 37 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 60% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: 40% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 13% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 39% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 14% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 10% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 5% compared to 9% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Alberta by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "operator, urban transit" Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators (NOC 73301) or across Canada.

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