Job prospects Backhoe Operator in Québec

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "backhoe operator" in Québec or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Québec

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be limited for Heavy equipment operators (NOC 73400) in Quebec for the 2023-2025 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.

Employment in this occupation primarily depends on activity in the construction industry, particularly in engineering and road construction work.

Public transit structuring projects, including work to maintain and rehabilitate bridges, tunnels, and roads, ensure slight job growth in this profession.

A few wind and power line projects are also expected to get underway in the next few years.

In other industry segments, residential construction starts are expected to decline, primarily due to rising costs and interest rates, while the institutional segment will remain active. The level of activity in commercial and industrial construction segments is expected to remain stable, but economic uncertainty and inflation may delay some projects.

While certain factors are driving a slight increase in employment, they will not be enough to compensate for the impact of other factors influencing the profession.

While the employment outlook for this occupation is limited at the provincial level, it will be moderate in five regions.

Here are some key facts about Heavy equipment operators in Quebec:

• Approximately 15,700 people work in this occupation.
• Heavy equipment operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 62%
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 9%
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 5%
• 44% of heavy equipment operators work all year, while 56% 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 41 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 5% of heavy equipment operators are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 23% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 19% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 52% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Québec by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "backhoe operator" Heavy equipment operators (except crane) (NOC 73400) or across Canada.

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