Canada’s oil and gas sector is facing a major hiring challenge.
The industry will need about 72,000 workers by 2035 — the majority to replace retiring employees, according to a new report by Careers in Energy, a division of Energy Safety Canada.
The number could climb well above 100,000 positions needed if proposed major energy projects like pipelines move forward in the coming years.
The plethora of hiring opportunities comes as the economy struggles and there is uncertainty in some industries because of the impacts of U.S. tariffs and artificial intelligence.
At the same time, the country is grappling with one of the worst job markets for young people in decades. The oilpatch offers high-paying jobs and a variety of positions, from welders and mechanics to salespeople and engineers. Still, some require working in remote locations, and not all jobseekers may be interested in a career tied to oil and natural gas.
“The energy sector really is growing and evolving and we’re faced with a big challenge,” said Lisa Stephenson, director, Careers in Energy.
“We do know that trades and engineers and technical workers are going to be needed; they’re going to be the most in demand.”
In the oilpatch, the labour crunch is expected to begin around 2027, she said, as retirements accelerate. Without enough workers, Stephenson said the country may struggle to deliver on federal aspirations of being a reliable, global source of oil and gas and becoming an energy superpower, in both clean and conventional energy.
Canada’s oilpatch directly employed 192,500 people in 2025, and employment is projected to reach 210,900 by 2035.
Across the economy, 5,400 jobs are created for every $1 billion spent developing and constructing energy infrastructure projects, according to Careers in Energy.
For Joshua Anhalt, 45, one of the industry
