Job prospects Backhoe Mechanic in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "backhoe mechanic" 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 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) 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.
• 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.

• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics will continue to have a high demand in Alberta with the levels of industrial and agricultural activities supported by the oil and gas sector.
• The occupation is influenced by the technical evolution of the profession, shift to autonomous mining trucks, GPS enabled farming equipment. 
• Expansion of railway hubs for the oil and gas sector, new transload facilities and expanded LRT systems in Calgary and Edmonton will support employment opportunities in the near term.

Here are some key facts about Heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Alberta:

• Approximately 17,200 people work in this occupation.
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Repair and maintenance (NAICS 811): 23%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 17%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 13%
  • Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 9%
  • Truck transportation (NAICS 484): 6%
• 66% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics work all year, while 34% 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 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 12% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 12% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 65% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 16% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 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 a "backhoe mechanic" Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) or across Canada.

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