Diversity Demographics

Though immigrants represent nearly 31% of Canada’s total labour force, the energy industry is underperforming in attracting people born outside of Canada. The share of immigrants in Canada’s energy industry, however, has generally trended upward, increasing from 15.3% in 2016 to 18.1% in 2023.

• In Western Canada, immigrants represent 18.3% of the energy labour force, compared to 33.5% of the Western Canadian labour force overall.
• In Central Canada, immigrants represent 21.7% of the energy labour force, compared to 31.6% of the Central Canadian labour force overall.
• In Atlantic Canada, immigrants account for 6.8% of the energy labour force compared to 11.2% of the Atlantic Canadian labour force overall.

Indigenous Peoples are well represented in Canada’s energy industry, accounting for 7.0% of the energy labour force compared to 3.9% of the Canadian labour force overall. 

• In Western Canada, Indigenous Peoples represent 7.4% of the energy labour force, compared to 5.7% of the Western Canadian labour force overall.
• In Central Canada, Indigenous Peoples represent 5.4% of the energy labour force, compared to 2.9% of the Central Canadian labour force overall.
• In Atlantic Canada, Indigenous Peoples are slightly underrepresented, accounting for 5.1% of the energy labour force compared to 5.5% of the Atlantic Canadian labour force overall.

Women have historically represented less than one-quarter of the energy labour force despite comprising nearly half of Canada’s total labour force, but which is in line with some other trade-intensive industries such as construction and manufacturing. There has been little change in gender representation in the energy labour force since as far back as 2006. A higher percentage of women, however, tend to work in the exploration and production and pipelines sectors compared to the energy services and refining sectors.

• In Western Canada, women represent 20.2% of the energy labour force, compared to 47.4% of the Western Canadian labour force overall.
• In Central Canada, women represent 17.0% of the energy labour force, compared to 47.4% of the Central Canadian labour force overall.
• In Atlantic Canada, women account for 20.5% of the energy labour force compared to 48.7% of the Atlantic Canadian labour force overall.

Canada’s workforce is undergoing a dramatic demographic shift. As the nation’s energy sector moves toward a net-zero carbon economy, the drive and passion of the next generation will be vital in the evolution of Canada’s energy future. Yet representation of workers under the age of 25 remains low—5.0% of the energy labour force compared to 14.1% of the Canadian labour force overall. 

• In Western Canada, youth represent 4.9% of the energy labour force, compared to 13.8% of the Western Canadian labour force overall.
• In Central Canada, youth represent 7.2% of the energy labour force, compared to 14.2% of the Central Canadian labour force overall.
• In Atlantic Canada, youth account for 6.0% of the energy labour force compared to 14.2% of the Atlantic Canadian labour force overall.