Job prospects Shield Operator in the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region

Over the past few years (2021-2023), the labour market was balanced for Heavy equipment operators (except crane) in the Bas-Saint-Laurent Region. The number of job openings was about the same as the number of workers available in this occupation.

Source Labour Market Information | Recent Trends Methodology

The employment outlook will be limited for Heavy equipment operators (NOC 73400) in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• Several 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. 

In recent years, the activity level has peaked in the civil engineering and road construction sectors. For the forecast period, the level of activity will increase only slightly. Some ongoing projects will be completed, but several large-scale projects will still begin during the forecast period, including the reconstruction of bridges, wind farms, and power lines. 

Part of the demand for this occupation also depends on other construction subsectors, mainly in land preparation. In this regard, residential construction should gradually pick up, driven by the decrease in interest rates. With a high level of activity in recent years, the institutional sector will remain fairly stable with several hospital and school refurbishment projects planned. While the commercial sector continues to be hindered by the uncertain pace of the economic recovery, several major projects should support investment growth in the industrial sector, particularly in the battery industry.

Here are some key facts about Heavy equipment operators in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region:

• Approximately 940 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Heavy equipment operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 54%
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 20%
  • Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 9%

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology