Oil and gas sector needs 72,000 workers by 2035
Industry faces major hiring challenge as retirements accelerate. Most positions are AI-resistant trades and engineering roles.
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Canada's oil and gas sector will need about 72,000 workers by 2035, with the majority filling roles vacated by retirees, according to a new report by Careers in Energy. The number could climb above 100,000 if major energy projects like pipelines move forward.
The labour crunch is expected to begin around 2027 as retirements accelerate. Without enough workers, the country may struggle to meet federal goals of becoming a reliable global energy source.
Trades workers, engineers, and technical staff will be in highest demand — positions that remain difficult to automate. "Until we get to the point where robots are building the robots and fixing the robots, we still need to build the robots," said Joshua Anhalt, CEO of Calgary-based MBrace Energy, which focuses on increasing production from aging oil and gas wells.
Attracting younger workers has been a persistent challenge for the sector, largely due to concerns about remote work, work-life balance, and the industry's environmental reputation. Yet the average salary reached more than $170,000 in 2024, more than double the Canadian average of just over $78,000.
Canada's oilpatch directly employed 192,500 people in 2025 and is projected to reach 210,900 by 2035. For every $1 billion spent on energy infrastructure, roughly 5,400 jobs are created across the economy.