Diversity Demographics

Though immigrants represent nearly 36% of Canada’s total labour force, the energy industry is underperforming in attracting people born outside of Canada. While the share of immigrants in Canada’s energy workforce has generally increased over time, it declined from 19.5% in 2024 to 18.6% in 2025.

• In Western Canada, immigrants represent 18.5% of the energy labour force, compared to 38.2% of the Western Canadian labour force overall.
• In Central Canada, immigrants represent 23.3% of the energy labour force, compared to 36.2% of the Central Canadian labour force overall.
• In Atlantic Canada, immigrants account for 8.8% of the energy labour force compared to 18.5% of the Atlantic Canadian labour force overall.

Indigenous Peoples are well represented in Canada’s energy industry, accounting for 7.4% of the energy labour force compared to 3.5% of the Canadian labour force overall. 

• In Western Canada, Indigenous Peoples represent 8.0% of the energy labour force, compared to 5.3% of the Western Canadian labour force overall.
• In Central Canada, Indigenous Peoples represent 5.4% of the energy labour force, compared to 2.7% of the Central Canadian labour force overall.
• In Atlantic Canada, Indigenous Peoples account for 3.5% of the energy labour force, compared to 4.3% 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, a pattern similar to other trade-intensive industries such as construction and manufacturing. In 2025, women’s representation declined to 18.2% from 20.9% in 2024. Mergers and acquisitions may have been one of several factors contributing to the 2025 decline in women’s labour force share, as consolidation can reduce overlapping business, finance and administrative roles where women are more highly represented.

• In Western Canada, women represent 19.1% of the energy labour force, compared to 46.7% of the Western Canadian labour force overall.
• In Central Canada, women represent 14.3% of the energy labour force, compared to 47.0% of the Central Canadian labour force overall.
• In Atlantic Canada, women account for 16.8% of the energy labour force compared to 48% 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 low-carbon economy, the drive and passion of the next generation will be vital in the evolution of Canada’s energy future. While the representation of youth in the energy industry increased to 6.5% in 2025, it still lags behind the overall Canadian labour force, which stands at 14%.

• In Western Canada, youth represent 5.9% of the energy labour force, compared to 13.6% of the Western Canadian labour force overall.
• In Central Canada, youth represent 6.5% of the energy labour force, compared to 14.2% of the Central Canadian labour force overall.
• In Atlantic Canada, youth account for 5.3% of the energy labour force compared to 13.7% of the Atlantic Canadian labour force overall.