Job prospects Undercutter Operator - Underground Mining in Northwest Territories

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Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "undercutter operator - underground mining" 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 limited for Underground production and development miners (NOC 83100) in Northwest Territories for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• The Northwest Territories' mining sector is predicted to contract over the forecast period due to declining production at the territory's mature diamond mines.
• The Territory's three diamond mines: Diavik, Gahcho Kué, and Ekati, are expected to close by the end of the decade, which will reduce employment opportunities for this occupation.
• The Diavik mine is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. The mine offered early voluntary separation to its staff in September 2024.
• Many employees in this occupation are fly-in fly-out workers and reside outside the territory.

Here are some key facts about Underground production and development miners in Northwest Territories:

• Approximately 100 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Underground production and development miners mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 93%
  • Other Commercial Services (NAICS 54-56, 81): 7%
• 67% of underground production and development miners work all year, while 33% 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 40 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: 35% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 45% compared to 26% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 20% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
  • bachelor's degree: n/a
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a