Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers

What they do?

Underground production and development miners operate drilling/mining machines, load/detonate explosives as well as perform other activities in underground mining.

A. Oil and gas drillers and well servicers direct drill crews in setting up rigs during drilling activities and completing/servicing wells. They operate drill or service rig machinery controls.

B. Oil and gas well loggers, testers, and related workers operate specialized mechanical/electronic equipment, tools, and instruments to provide services for well drilling, completion, and servicing.

Where they find work?

1. Mining (except oil and gas) - 44.0%
2. Support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction - 36.0%
3. Oil and gas extraction - 7.0%

What education do I need?

1. In general, you usually need a high school diploma. In some cases, appropriate experience may replace formal educational requirements.

2. You usually need industry or college courses or supervised on-the-job training/experience in a subordinate position, such as mine labourer or rig crew member.

3. To be an underground production and development miner, you often need company licensing or certification, and you may need a blasting licence in the province/territory where you'll work.

4. To work in an oil and gas occupation, you need first aid, hydrogen-sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, and other safety certificates.

5. You also need a provincial blaster licence, seismic blaster, and oil well blaster certification for well perforation services. You may also need a college diploma in drilling or electronic engineering technology.

6. To be an offshore driller, you need several years' experience in a similar land position.

High School Subject that will help:

English
Physical Education
First Aid
Machine Shop

What can you expect to make:

The average hourly wages for Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers is $22.62/HR, which is above average for occupations in the primary industry sector and are above average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.

Average Wage

Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers wages

Expected Wage by Age

Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers Wage By Age

Unemployment:

4% of Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.

Unemployment

Trends in Unemployment

Current Job Outlook:

The job outlook for Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers is considered Above Average because:

1. Employment grew at an above-average rate.

2. Hourly wages ($22.62) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average.

3. The unemployment rate (4%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Future Job Prospects:

Your job outlook will continue to be Above Average because:

1. New exploration and major production projects will likely improve the employment growth rate which should, however, be average.

2. Although the retirement rate will likely be below average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.

3. The number of job openings will likely exceed the number of job seekers.

Highest Concetration:

The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of are found in Alberta and Prince Edward Island while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Unionization Rate:

The unionization rate (40%) is close to the average (32%) for all occupations.

Useful Experience:

1. Physical/outdoor work

2. Machinery

3. Safety procedures

Part Time Workers

Part time workers:

3% of Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 32,200 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, an increase of 49% since 1997.