Job prospects Derrickhand in British Columbia
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Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

Limited

The employment outlook will be limited for Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators (NOC 84101) in British Columbia 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 several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

The start-up of LNG Canada may create new drilling opportunities in the Montney natural gas-producing region of northeast B.C.

Here are some key facts about Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators in British Columbia:

  • Approximately 450 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
  • Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators mainly work in the following sectors:
    • Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 55%
    • Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 25%
    • Construction (NAICS 23): 11%
  • 38% of oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services 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.
  • 7% of oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
  • The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
    • Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations
    • Women: 7% compared to 48% for all occupations
  • The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
    • no high school diploma: 17% compared to 8% for all occupations
    • high school diploma or equivalent: 47% compared to 28% for all occupations
    • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 23% compared to 13% for all occupations
    • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 10% compared to 17% for all occupations
    • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
    • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Legend

0 out of 5 stars
Undetermined
1 out of 5 stars
Very limited
2 out of 5 stars
Limited
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Moderate
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5 out of 5 stars
Very good

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "derrickhand" Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators (NOC 84101) or across Canada.

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Labour Market Information Survey
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