Job prospects Excavating Machine Operator in Northwest Territories

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "excavating machine operator" in Northwest Territories or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Northwest Territories

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Heavy equipment operators (NOC 73400) in Northwest Territories for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• This occupation will benefit from major public and private construction projects scheduled in the Northwest Territories over the next few years.
• For example, the federal government is providing NWT $94.5 million over five years through the Canada Community-Building Fund to support core infrastructure and housing development projects in the territory.
• Canada's interest and inflation rates started to decline in 2024, which may stimulate economic activities in the construction sector.

Here are some key facts about Heavy equipment operators in Northwest Territories:

• Approximately 300 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Heavy equipment operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 35%
  • Public Administration and Defence (NAICS 91): 30%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 25%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 88% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 12% for all occupations
• 59% of heavy equipment operators work all year, while 41% work only part of the year, compared to 71% and 28% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 44 weeks 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: 39% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 26% compared to 26% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 31% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 18% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: n/a
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

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

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