Employment opportunities in Wood Buffalo

The primary area of employment in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) contains jobs in the upstream/midstream petroleum industry (oil and gas) and jobs with the contractors working in that industry. Other areas of employment are in construction, service/retail, education, government, health care, and transportation.

For general information about the labour market in the RMWB, read the Labour Market News.

There are a couple of ways someone could work in the petroleum industry—by working directly for the oil or gas company or by working for one of their contractors or suppliers. Employees may work on-site or at another location off-site.

Generally, oil or gas companies hire management, supervisory, administration and ticketed journeyman tradespeople (often with Interprovincial Red Seal). All other positions are hired by the companies contracted by the oil and gas companies.

Construction work is contracted or sub-contracted to construction companies. Camp facilities may be available to non-residents when the construction sites are located outside of Fort McMurray, especially for projects that are further away. Length of employment will vary with the timing, location and type of contract. Contract workers may be required to provide their own transportation to the place of work. Some of the engineering work is done in Edmonton and Calgary. Large modules are often constructed in the Edmonton area and transported to Fort McMurray.

Growth in the oilsands industry creates community growth and an increased need for goods and services resulting in spin-off employment. The ratio of spin-off to direct employment jobs is expected to be at least two-to-one. That is, two jobs will be created in the municipality for every job created by an oilsands company.