Job prospects Driller - Oil And Gas Drilling in British Columbia

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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 a "driller - oil and gas drilling" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers (NOC 83101) in British Columbia 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 a moderate number of 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 drillers, servicers, testers and related workers in British Columbia:

• Approximately 1,650 people work in this occupation.
• Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 48%
  • Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 16%
  • Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 9%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 95% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 52% of oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers work all year, while 48% 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 40 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 10% of oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 92% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 8% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 21% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 38% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 21% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 8% 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.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology