Job prospects Engineer, Power Generation in Nova Scotia

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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.

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "engineer, power generation" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Mechanical engineers (NOC 21301) in Nova Scotia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Mechanical engineers are primarily employed in consulting firms, government defence services, construction (HVAC: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and manufacturing facilities. The large Irving Shipbuilding project in Halifax is a current noteworthy source of employment. Halifax has the most job opportunities, while attracting Mechanical engineers to rural locations has been proving difficult. Those with a professional designation may have more success finding employment.

Here are some key facts about Mechanical engineers in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 850 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Mechanical engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 41%
  • Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333): 7%
  • Ship and Boat Building (NAICS 3366): 6%
  • Plastics and rubber products and chemicals manufacturing (NAICS 325-326): 6%
  • Utilities (NAICS 22): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 73% of mechanical engineers work all year, while 27% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 9% of mechanical engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 90% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 10% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
  • bachelor's degree: 74% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 23% compared to 10% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology