Job prospects Ice Specialist - Oceanography near Yellowknife (NT)

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This occupation includes job titles whose primary duties and responsibilities lead to positive environmental outcomes. Job Bank uses a list of occupations that were identified as "green" through a task-based analysis conducted by the United States’ Occupational Information Network (O*NET), which was recognized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and adapted to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) in Canada. This list may change over time. Learn more.

The employment outlook will be moderate for Geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in Northwest Territories for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

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

• There was an international shortage of geoscientists in 2024, largely due to retirements and reduced enrollments in degree programs. This may increase demand for this occupation over the forecast period.
• Many employees within these occupations in Northwest Territories work in the mining industry or within public administration. An increasing number of geoscientists in the territory are expected to work on fire ecology and forecasting during the forecast period.
• The Northwest Territories' mining sector is predicted to contract over the forecast period due to declining production at the territory's mature diamond mines.
• The territory's three diamond mines: Diavik, Gahcho Kué, and Ekati, are expected to close by the end of the decade, which will reduce employment opportunities for this occupation.
• The Diavik mine is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. The mine offered early voluntary separation to its staff in September 2024.

Here are some key facts about Geoscientists and oceanographers in Northwest Territories:

• Approximately 50 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 43%
  • Public Administration and Defence (NAICS 91): 32%
  • Other Commercial Services (NAICS 54-56, 81): 25%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 75% compared to 88% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 25% compared to 12% for all occupations
• 75% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 25% work only part of the year, compared to 71% and 28% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 44 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 50% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 50% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
  • bachelor's degree: 22% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 78% compared to 9% for all occupations

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology