Where to Find the Best Oil and Gas Jobs in Canada [2022 Updated]

by Usama Chaudry on September 11, 2022

Are you interested in getting a job in the oil and gas industry?

Then:

Canada could be the right place for you.

Because:

There are a plethora of lucrative oil and gas jobs in Canada as it is the world’s fifth-largest oil producer and exporter.

So:

There is a forever need for derrick-hands, drillers, petroleum engineers, project managers, and other professionals in the country.

But the question is:

Where exactly in Canada should you search for such profitable opportunities?

Well, here is the answer:

Canada is lucky to have oil and natural gas deposits under the surface of every province and territory, which are thirteen in total. 

But, it might be difficult to look for work opportunities in every province.

That’s why:

In this article, we will assist you in narrowing down your search to only three provinces that account for 97 percent of Canada’s oil and gas production.

So, continue reading this article as we have a lot of valuable information to share with you. 

Most Oil Producing Provinces in Canada

Oil production in Canada is a major industry and contributor to the country’s economy. Here are the top three oil-producing provinces in Canada

  1. Alberta
  2. Saskatchewan
  3. Newfoundland and Labrador

1. Alberta

The province of Alberta is ranked first on this list and is the country’s largest oil-producing province. Not only that, but this Canadian prairie province is also the world’s largest producer of oil sands. 

In 2021, Alberta yielded a record 3.61 million barrels per day, including traditional oil. These figures are up more than 10 percent from 2020, and 87,000 barrels per day is more than the record of 3.52 million barrels per day set in 2019.

Caroline, Brooks, Red Deer, and Medicine Hat are just a few of the cities in the province of Alberta where major oil reserves are situated. 

Petroleum distilleries and upgrader plants such as the Shell Canada Scotford Upgrader and the Shell Canada Scotford Refinery, each of which is responsible for the oil production of up to 100,000 barrels per day, can also be found in Alberta. 

Moreover, oil pipelines run through Alberta to marketplaces in neighboring provinces and the U.S., carrying crude oil to these destinations.

If you apply for immigration to Canada, multiple oil and gas jobs in Alberta’s oilfields provide you with a higher chance of acquiring a job offer as it is among the top listed oil-producing province in Canada. 

2. Saskatchewan

The second-largest province of Canada in terms of oil production is Saskatchewan.

Like Alberta, Saskatchewan is also a prairie province, which accounts for around 13.5% of the production of the following petroleum products in Canada:

  • Natural gas
  • Heavy crude oil
  • Light crude oil 

The good news?

If you are seeking the best oil and gas jobs in Canada, you can narrow down your search and conveniently find jobs in the oil and gas industry in Saskatchewan

The reason?

Thanks to the fact that this province is split into four separate oil-producing areas that are listed below, Saskatchewan has many job opportunities to offer:

  1. The Kindersley region
  2. The Lloydminster region
  3. The Weyburn region
  4. The Swift Current region

3. Newfoundland and Labrador

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador, located on Canada’s rough Atlantic coast, is made up of: 

  • The island of Newfoundland
  • A larger mainland portion to the northwest, Labrador

What’s interesting about Newfoundland and Labrador is that despite being one of Canada’s smaller provinces, it has held its ground as the country’s third-largest oil-producing province. 

Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy is primarily reliant on its tremendous oil and gas industry, which serves as a principal financial booster.

A total of four oil fields in Newfoundland and Labrador generate about 240,000 barrels of oil in a day on average. Apart from them, a fifth oil field, namely the Hebron project worth $14 billion, began producing oil in November 2017.

As this province significantly counts on its oil and gas production to drive its economy, there must be ample job opportunities for oil and gas laborers. If you are one of those searching for jobs in Canada, whether they are oil and gas operator jobs or advanced-level managerial jobs, this province might be the right place for you to kickstart your career. 

So:

If the province of Newfoundland and Labrador draws your attention for the sake of jobs in the oil and gas industry or other sectors, you may want to check out a few designated employers responsible for forming the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program.

In case you get a valid job offer from an appointed recruiter with the help of this program, you may obtain the benefit of working and residing in this province on a permanent basis.   

Where are Most of Canada’s Oil Fields?

Oil is a vital and diverse source of energy for Canada. It can be verified by the fact that Canadians utilize 1,500,000 barrels of oil every day, accounting for 2.5 percent of the globe’s total consumption. 

To tell you more, in 2018, Canadians consumed 110 billion liters of oil-based products.

But where does most of the oil in Canada come from?

As you might expect, the key player here is again Alberta.  

Approximately 171 billion barrels of proven oil fields exist in Canada, contributing to 10 percent of the proven oil fields across the globe. Out of that, 166.3 billion barrels of oil fields are only found outside of the oil sands in Alberta.

The oil sands currently account for 86 percent of Alberta’s total oil production, including upgraded synthetic crude and clean, marketable bitumen.

In 2021, Alberta yielded a record 3.61 million barrels per day, including traditional oil. These figures are up more than 10 percent from 2020, and 87,000 barrels per day is more than the record of 3.52 million barrels per day set in 2019.

Which is the Best Oil Company to Work for?

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Enbridge Inc. is Canada’s biggest oil and gas company. It is also the largest midstream firm and the best oil company to work for in Canada.

Enbridge Inc. is a transnational energy transportation and distribution corporation that made 33.7 billion dollars in revenue in 2021.

Not only that, but it is also the biggest crude oil transporter in North America, and its pipeline network stretches across the United States and the Eastern provinces of Canada.

From 2015 to 2018, Enbridge Inc. was named one of Canada’s leading 100 employers by Forbes magazine. However, it made its way up through number 58 this year.

With revenue of CAD 50.1 billion and a net income of CAD 5.7 billion, Enbridge Inc. offers various jobs in the oil industry

So if you are looking for some of the best oil and gas jobs in Canada, you can head to Enbridge’s career page, which has currently advertised 71 open job positions across Canada. 

Some of the popular jobs include:

  • Electrical Engineer Specialist
  • Supervisor, Record
  • Senior Mechanical Engineer – Facilities
  • Sr Engineer
  • Manager TIS End User Services
  • Meter Facility Senior Engineer
  • Pipeline Technician

If you want to know about other biggest oil and gas companies in Canada, consider reading this blog, which might help you get your foot in the oil and gas industry. 

Oil and Gas Jobs in Canada

Working on an oil rig is only one aspect of Canada’s oil and gas sector, and there is much to discover. In 2017, oil and gas exploration and production contributed to the creation of nearly 533,000 new oil and gas jobs in Canada, indicating numerous career prospects in this industry.

The oil and gas industry engages a diverse range of workers and experts with varying skill sets, including dump truck operators, managers, cooks, and accountants.

For your convenience, we have listed the ten best paying oil fields jobs in Canada in the form of a table, which is as follows:

JOB TITLEANNUAL SALARY 
Well testersCAD 55,671
Gas plant operatorCAD 52,373
Chemical engineerCAD 80,666
Petroleum geologistCAD 89,188
Sales representativeCAD 82,352
Vessel managerCAD 91,142
Drilling engineerCAD 95,749
HR adviserCAD 91,204
Executive account managerCAD 97,428
Crude oil driverCAD 97,144

Frequently Asked Questions:

1- Which province in Canada is best for oil and gas jobs?

As the top oil and natural gas-producing province, Alberta is the best for finding oil and gas jobs in Canada. A total of 10,000 direct or indirect oil and natural gas production jobs in Canada are supported by Alberta. From exploration and drilling to transportation and marketing, these jobs contribute to the provincial economy and provide Albertans with good, well-paying careers.

2- What is the highest paying job in the oil and gas industry?

With an average annual pay of CAD 199,504, the Project Manager is the highest-paid position in the oil and gas industry. The project manager is responsible for ensuring that a project is completed on time, within budget, according to specifications, and in compliance with safety regulations from inception to completion. Moreover, the Project Manager is also responsible for ensuring that communication between groups is smooth and effective.

3- What is the best oil and gas company to work for in Canada?

The best oil and gas company to work for in Canada is Enbridge Inc., situated in Calgary, Alberta. It is the biggest and the largest midstream oil and gas company in Canada, with revenue of CAD 50.1 billion, net income of CAD 5.7 billion, and a market cap of CAD 78.7 billion.

Conclusion: 

Because the oil and gas sector in Canada is thriving, there are a ton of oil and gas jobs in Canada. Canadian oil jobs have spiked the demand for skilled and intermediate trained workers in the oil and gas sector.

Therefore, if you want to advance your profession and earn a better income, then Canada is the place to be.

If you want to know about the best-paying jobs in the oil and gas industry, you can head to this article.

Usama ChaudryUsama is a professional engineer and graduated from the University of Alberta. Computations of electrical and thermal characteristics are among his research interests. Usama's hobbies outside of professional work include reading, playing tennis, and trekking.

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