Careers in Energy Releases Regional Energy Labour Market Outlooks to 2035 for Atlantic and Central Canada
- 3 min read
Calgary, AB — Expanding on the insights of Canada’s Energy Workforce: National Labour Market Outlook to 2035, Careers in Energy (CIE), a division of Energy Safety Canada (ESC), generated forecasts for Atlantic and Central Canada, projecting a combined potential of up to 8,850 new energy jobs by 2035 in these regions.
Rooted in the national outlook’s comprehensive analysis, these regional reports detail unique opportunities and challenges approaching Atlantic and Central Canada.
With an eye on the future, Atlantic Canada is set to diversify its energy sources, tapping into its exceptional wind resources and advancing its biomass-based fuels and low-carbon hydrogen production. This strategic shift not only aligns with Canada’s move towards a low-carbon future, but also positions the region as a critical player in international energy markets given its close proximity to Europe and the Eastern US.
Atlantic Canada’s energy industry is projected to generate between 2,700 and 3,000 new direct jobs by 2035. With 3,100 energy workers also eligible to retire during this period, the result is potential net hiring requirements of 5,800 to 6,150 jobs. The region directly employs about 9,200 energy workers, sustains around 12,000 indirect jobs annually through its operations supply chain and creates 5,400 additional indirect jobs for every $1 billion spent on energy capital projects.
Central Canada plays a vital role providing fuel to North America’s economy and Canada’s energy industry relies on the region’s finance, insurance, real estate and manufacturing sectors. Its growing momentum for producing low-carbon fuels creates potential net hiring requirements of 2,500 to 2,700 jobs, with another 105,000 indirect jobs sustained annually to support industry’s operations supply chain.
CIE’s Canada’s Energy Workforce: Regional Labour Market Outlook to 2035 reports for Central and Atlantic Canada examine workforce needs beyond established energy sectors to include growing and/or emerging sectors and technologies such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), low-carbon hydrogen, biomass-based fuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
“As we navigate the global energy demand growth, our commitment to a responsible, low-carbon energy future puts Canada in an excellent position,” says ESC President and CEO, Murray Elliott, echoing the national outlook’s emphasis on Canada’s evolving energy system and reaffirming the enduring potential for high-quality, well-paying jobs across the country.
CIE’s research shows established sectors—exploration and production, oil sands, pipelines, etc.—will continue as the mainstay of Canada’s job creation while emerging sectors are expected to gain momentum later in the forecast period.
Canada’s energy sector is becoming increasingly integrated and its workforce is following suit. The foundational technology, equipment, skills and expertise required are similar across both established and emerging sectors, making upskilling and reskilling vital for energy workers’ career resilience.
The complete findings of CIE’s labour market outlooks to 2035, encompassing national and regional perspectives, are accessible on CIE’s Reports page. Detailed data by region and occupation can be found on CIE’s Outlook Data Dashboard. This research was supported in part by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, highlighting a collaborative effort to shape the future of Canada’s energy workforce.
For all media inquiries, contact:
