Outlook

Fundamental shift in the global energy economy

Geopolitical conflict has highlighted the fragility of global energy supply and elevated energy security as a priority, reinforcing Canada’s potential role as a reliable supplier of diverse energy sources.

Market diversification and energy security takes centre stage

Canada is well positioned to supply energy to markets seeking alternatives to their traditional suppliers. New access to Asian markets, strong operational performance, long-term reserves and growing public support for exports strengthen the industry’s growth outlook. New or expanded energy infrastructure is needed to deliver on the potential.

Continued investment in emerging sector major projects

While established oil and gas remains central, investment in low-carbon energy and innovation continues. Supportive regulatory and incentive frameworks are enabling major projects in liquefied natural gas (LNG), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and low-carbon hydrogen to move forward.

Workforce impacts beyond industry activity

Industry is producing more with fewer workers. Productivity gains have been realized by technology adoption and consolidation across the industry. While corporate functions are most affected by merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, field and operations roles remain resilient. An increasingly complex business, regulatory and geopolitical environment is shaping evolving skill requirements.

An integrated energy system and workforce

Canada’s energy industry is increasingly integrated and so is its workforce. Foundational technology, equipment, skills and expertise are being expanded and applied in innovative ways to develop new low-carbon energy sources and deploy emissions-reduction technologies. Many of the qualifications required by Canada’s emerging energy sectors already exist within established energy sectors.

Monitoring leading indicators of industry activity

As Canada approaches a potential generational shift in its global energy role, Careers in Energy (CIE), along with industry collaborators, continues to monitor policy, regulatory, and investment conditions that influence energy production and workforce needs.

Central Canada’s role in global energy security

Geopolitical conflict has highlighted the fragility of the global energy supply and elevated energy security as a priority. Central Canada’s role in global energy security is less about extracting energy resources and more about enabling, manufacturing, financing and innovating Canadian infrastructure that allows secure and affordable energy to reach international markets.

Central Canada fuels North America’s economy while responding to the emissions challenge

Central Canada plays a vital role in supplying fuel to North America’s economy, even as momentum builds to produce low-carbon fuel. Central Canada’s energy industry is advancing sustainable practices and investing in low-carbon energy sources such as biomass-based fuels and low-carbon hydrogen to achieve emissions-reduction goals.

Workforce impacts beyond industry activity

Industry is producing more with fewer workers. Productivity gains have been realized by technology adoption. An increasingly complex business, regulatory and geopolitical environment is shaping evolving skill requirements.

An integrated energy system and workforce

Central Canada’s energy industry is increasingly integrated and so is its workforce. Foundational technology, equipment, skills and expertise are being expanded and applied in innovative ways to develop new low-carbon energy sources and deploy emissions-reduction technologies. Many of the qualifications required by Canada’s emerging energy sectors already exist within established energy sectors.

Monitoring leading indicators of industry activity

As Central Canada explores low-carbon solutions and supports a potential generational shift in its global energy role, Careers in Energy (CIE), along with industry collaborators, continues to monitor policy, regulatory and investment conditions that influence energy production and workforce needs.

Fundamental shift in the global energy economy

Geopolitical conflict has highlighted the fragility of the global energy supply and elevated energy security as a priority. As Canada’s most prolific energy-producing region, Western Canada has an opportunity to become a reliable global supplier of diverse energy sources.

Access to Western Canada’s tidewater is critical to provide energy security

LNG Canada and the Trans Mountain Pipeline expanded access to global energy markets from British Columbia’s west coast. With some of the world’s most abundant and long-term oil and gas reserves, Western Canada can be part of the global energy supply solution if there is expanded opportunity to move its resources to tidewater.

Western Canada’s energy economy is drawing strength from diverse sources and technologies

While established sectors remain key economic drivers, investment in emerging energy sectors is expanding, creating new opportunities for economic growth and export diversification beyond traditional energy products.

Indigenous participation is central to energy development

Indigenous communities are shaping the future of Western Canada’s energy economy as rights holders, partners, investors, employers and workforce participants. Successful energy projects increasingly depend on meaningful Indigenous engagement and long-term economic partnerships.

Workforce impacts beyond industry activity

Western Canada’s industry is producing more with fewer workers. Productivity gains have been realized by technology adoption and consolidation across the industry. While corporate functions are most affected by merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, field and operations roles remain resilient. An increasingly complex business, regulatory and geopolitical environment is shaping evolving skill requirements.

An integrated energy system and workforce

Western Canada’s energy industry is increasingly integrated and so is its workforce. Foundational technology, equipment, skills and expertise are being expanded and applied in innovative ways to develop new low-carbon energy sources and deploy emissions-reduction technologies. Many of the qualifications required by Canada’s emerging energy sectors already exist within established energy sectors.

Monitoring leading indicators of industry activity

As Western Canada approaches a potential generational shift in its global energy role, Careers in Energy (CIE), along with industry collaborators, continues to monitor policy, regulatory, and investment conditions that influence energy production and workforce needs.

Fundamental shift in global energy economy

Geopolitical conflict has highlighted the fragility of global energy supply and elevated energy security as a priority, reinforcing Canada’s potential role as a reliable supplier of diverse energy sources. Atlantic Canada’s crude oil production already reaches international markets, including Europe, the Eastern US and the Gulf Coast. It is well-positioned to supply energy to markets seeking alternatives to their traditional suppliers.

Geopolitical conflict highlights the region’s vulnerability

Atlantic Canada’s vulnerability to US market dynamics and policy decisions has prompted a re-evaluation of the opportunities for domestic supply, especially in natural gas, and of greater collaboration among provinces. Irving Oil Refinery, Canada’s largest, has been forced to look for new supply options as the war in the Middle East disrupts shipments from Saudi Arabia.

Atlantic Canada’s energy economy has potential to draw strength from diverse sources

Atlantic Canada has the opportunity to expand the domestic use of low-carbon energy and is uniquely positioned to export due to its proximity to Europe. The region currently has biomass-based fuel production and a large-scale low-carbon hydrogen project that draws on wind power, both of which are projected to advance.

Significant hiring demand to 2030

Atlantic Canada is projected to add 3,570 energy jobs from 2026 to 2030. Offshore oil development is the primary driver of new jobs, with low-carbon hydrogen projects also creating employment opportunities. Beyond 2030, employment growth in low-carbon hydrogen is expected to help offset a gradual decline in oil and gas employment.

Indigenous participation is central to energy development

As Atlantic Canada seeks to expand both low-carbon and traditional energy industries, Indigenous partnerships are increasingly important for improving project certainty, supporting responsible development and advancing economic reconciliation and regional prosperity.

Workforce impacts beyond industry activity

Industry is producing more with fewer workers. Productivity gains have been realized by technology adoption. An increasingly complex business, regulatory and geopolitical environment is shaping evolving skill requirements.

An integrated energy system and workforce

Atlantic Canada’s energy industry is increasingly integrated and so is its workforce. Foundational technology, equipment, skills and expertise are being expanded and applied in innovative ways to develop new low-carbon energy sources and deploy emissions-reduction technologies. Many of the qualifications required by Canada’s emerging energy sectors already exist within established energy sectors.

Monitoring leading indicators of industry activity

As Canada approaches a potential generational shift in its global energy role, Careers in Energy (CIE), along with industry collaborators, continues to monitor policy, regulatory, and investment conditions that influence energy production and workforce needs.