Frequently Asked Questions
Job Seeker FAQs
Responses provided to the following Frequently Asked Questions are for general information purposes only and are not intended as actual career advice. Job seekers are encouraged to conduct additional research to make an informed career decision. The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada is not responsible for decisions made based on this information.
Careers in Oil and Gas Website
- Do you hire for positions in oil and gas? Can I submit my resume and cover letter to you? Where can I find job postings on your website?
- Do you offer employment counseling services? Who can I talk to about finding a job in oil and gas?
Working in Oil and Gas
- What are the average salaries / wage pay rates for oil and gas workers? Is it true that oil and gas workers are well paid?
- What are the working conditions like for oil and gas workers?
- Are there other jobs in oil and gas besides working outside on a rig?
- What kind of jobs in oil and gas are in-demand?
- Where are oil and gas jobs found? Do I have to move to Alberta to work in oil and gas?
- What do I need to consider when relocating for a job in oil and gas? What are living conditions like in oil and gas communities? Is accommodation easy to find?
- Is it safe to work in oil and gas?
- How do oil and gas employers deal with drugs and alcohol?
- What kind of education and training do I need to work in oil and gas?
- Can I work as an apprentice in oil and gas?
Oil and Gas Industry Operations
- What is the oil and gas industry doing to protect the environment?
- Isn't oil and gas considered a "sunset industry"? If I join the industry, will I be able to have a career until I retire?
Resources for Immigrants, Women and Career Changers
- I am a recent immigrant to Canada and I'm interested in working in oil and gas. What do I have to do get a job in oil and gas?
- Are women welcome in the oil and gas industry?
- I'm interested in changing careers and want to work in oil and gas. Can I transfer my experience?
Careers in Oil and Gas Website
Do you hire for positions in oil and gas? Can I submit my resume and cover letter to you? Where can I find job postings on your website?
The Careers in Oil and Gas website's primary purpose is to provide information, education and resources about working in the Canadian oil and gas industry. We are not an employer or recruiter and we do not post jobs. We cannot accept cover letters or resumes from job seekers at this time.
If you are looking for employment in the oil and gas industry:
- Click through the employer ads featured on the right side of this website;
- Visit our Featured Employers page where you'll find a listing of companies, each with its own career posting; or
- Check our Job Boards listing for other oil and gas job posting sites.
Do you offer employment counseling services? Who can I talk to about finding a job in oil and gas?
We do not offer employment counseling or job search services. However, you can visit our Job Seeker Tools page for job search tips and resources. For help with your job search, we encourage you to visit your local Service Canada Centre or call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) for career services in your area. To access Government of Canada information from outside of Canada, visit the Canadian embassy or consulate nearest you or access the Service Canada Directory.
Working in Oil and Gas
What are the average salaries / wage pay rates for oil and gas workers? Is it true that oil and gas workers are well paid?
Wages and salaries vary depending on a worker's occupation, skills and experience. Visit our Pay & Benefits page for information on oil and gas salaries and wages.
What are the working conditions like for oil and gas workers?
Working conditions really depend on what you're doing and where. You could be working inside – in an office, warehouse, processing facility or plant – or outdoors – on a pipeline or rig site – or even somewhere in between, like driving a truck!
Field positions typically operate on shifts, and often require working away from home in physically demanding roles and challenging conditions. It's not for everyone! But the tough schedules and working conditions are balanced by long periods of days off, when workers get some much needed rest and relaxation.
Office positions are less physically demanding, but often require higher levels of education. Schedules depend on the position and the company.
Learn more about Working Conditions and check out the Day in the Life profiles of people working in the industry.
Are there other jobs in oil and gas besides working outside on a rig?
Of course! There are hundreds of jobs requiring different skill sets, education and levels of experience. To learn more about the diverse jobs and careers available, visit our Career Options pages. To get a listing of oil and gas jobs that would match your interests and working preferences, take our Choose Your Future Interactive Quiz.
What kind of jobs in oil and gas are in-demand?
Finding the right career path in oil and gas can take some time, and requires a bit of research, advance planning and soul-searching. Labour market information is one tool you can use to learn about jobs that are in-demand. This information provides clues to the current job market and conditions, information on occupations, news on an industry's performance, and employment outlooks. You can find labour market information from a variety of sources – all you need to do is look around! The internet, news reports and industry associations are a few of the places you can find valuable labour market information, to help in making informed career decisions.
The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada has conducted industry consultations around petroleum labour market information and current (short-term) in-demand occupations. Some of the in-demand occupations include steam operators and journey-certified trades (such as millwrights, instrumentation, welders, pipefitters, heavy duty mechanics and warehousers). These positions can mainly be found in the oil sands and other hard-to-recruit areas.
Many of these positions require a combination of skills, experience and certificates. Employers in oil and gas may consider equivalent experience and transferrable skills. For tips on finding a job in oil and gas, visit our job search tips page. To research various oil and gas work locations across Canada, visit our Oil and Gas Locations page.
Where are oil and gas jobs found? Do I have to move to Alberta to work in oil and gas?
While oil and gas jobs are found throughout Canada, activity is more concentrated in western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan) and the east coast (Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. Your petroleum industry career could be in a bustling centre, a quiet northern town or a coastal community! Visit Oil & Gas Locations for more information.
What do I need to consider when relocating for a job in oil and gas? What are living conditions like in oil and gas communities? Is accommodation easy to find?
There are many factors affecting a decision to relocate to another city or town for a job. This is a major decision that requires careful planning, research and discussion with your family. Talking to a professional career counselor will help you explore your options and understand the steps involved. We encourage you to visit your local Service Canada Centre for assistance or call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) for career services in your area.
If you are offered a position in oil and gas, ask the employer what type of relocation assistance is available, if any. Some companies provide housing allowance/compensation and/or camp accommodations. Some offer "fly-in fly-out" options for in-demand occupations, but this greatly varies by the company, industry sector and resources available.
Make sure you get all the relevant relocation information before you accept a position in a new community. Visit our Relocation page for some useful tips.
Is it safe to work in oil and gas?
Oil and gas employers know that people are their most important assets, so they go to great lengths to operate safely. In addition, the oil and gas industry is highly regulated and monitored by government and safety bodies to ensure the safest work environment for workers. Check out our Safety page for more information on what the oil and gas industry does every day to protect workers.
How do oil and gas employers deal with drugs and alcohol?
Use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace greatly compromises the safety of workers and the public. Oil and gas employers have very clear policies against the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. Pre-requisite and random drug testing, as well as "dry" camps, are common in the industry. Learn about a potential employer's drug and alcohol policy before accepting a position so you understand the regulations and you are certain you can follow the rules.
What kind of education and training do I need to work in oil and gas?
Trade tickets, college diplomas, professional certifications and university degrees can take you far in the oil and gas industry. Math, science and computer courses are particularly valuable in many industry sectors, as much of the equipment used in the field requires you to deal with instrumentation, computers and chemicals.
The types of courses and training vary by occupation, so be sure to research your education options before starting your career in the industry. Find out more at Training & Education.
Can I work as an apprentice in oil and gas?
More than 200 different trades offer apprenticeship training programs in Canada. Many of those apprentice programs operate in the oil and gas industry. To learn more, go to our Apprenticeship and Trades Training page.
Oil and Gas Industry Operations
What is the oil and gas industry doing to protect the environment?
In Canada, strict environmental regulations govern all oil and gas activity and ensure operations are completed with minimal disturbance to the environment. But the industry does more than just follow regulations. To offset the industry's impacts on air, water and land, companies invest millions of dollars in programs and technologies that help reduce their environmental footprint before, during and after operations.
Learn more about the industry's environmental initiatives on our Environment page and from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) Stewardship website.
Isn't oil and gas considered a "sunset industry"? If I join the industry, will I be able to have a career until I retire?
No one can predict the future, but worldwide demand for petroleum products continues to grow. Canada's vast petroleum reserves are expected to last for many decades to come, particularly as new technologies are developed that help us get at the more challenging resource pools. This means that if you decide start a career in oil and gas, you will join an industry with a future. For more information, visit the Future of Oil and Gas.
Resources for Immigrants, Women and Career Changers
I am a recent immigrant to Canada and I'm interested in working in oil and gas. What do I have to do get a job in oil and gas?
Visit our Resources for Immigrants page, where you'll find a step-by-step guide and listing of immigrant serving agencies across Canada.
Are women welcome in the oil and gas industry?
The oil and gas industry in Canada has historically been a "man's world", but that's changing. Today, women make up a growing percentage of the oil and gas workforce and can be found working in all sectors of the industry. Check out our Resources for Women for more details.
I'm interested in changing careers and want to work in oil and gas. Can I transfer my experience?
You may indeed be able to transfer your skills and valuable work experience gained in previous jobs to a new career in the oil and gas industry. Visit Resources for Career Changers to learn more.
To find out which oil and gas careers would be suitable for you based on your skills and interests, take our Choose Your Future – Interactive Quiz or go directly to Career Options to look for a new career in oil and gas.
