Job prospects Heavy Equipment Mechanic - Diesel Engine in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "heavy equipment mechanic - diesel engine" in Alberta or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Alberta

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) in Alberta 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 a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Coal production in Alberta has been in decline, largely because of the closures of mines aimed at producing thermal coal for domestic use. The government mandated transition from coal-fired power generation to natural gas-fired and renewable energy sources may limit the job opportunities for this mining related occupation. In addition, the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project in southwest Alberta, aimed at extracting steelmaking coal is under review by regulatory authorities.

Here are some key facts about Heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Alberta:

• Approximately 17,200 people work in this occupation.
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Repair and maintenance (NAICS 811): 23%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 17%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 13%
  • Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 9%
  • Truck transportation (NAICS 484): 6%
• 66% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics work all year, while 34% 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 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 12% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 12% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 65% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 16% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Alberta by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "heavy equipment mechanic - diesel engine" Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) or across Canada.

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