According to the Athabasca Regional Issues Working Group (RIWG), in addition to the 33,000 direct, in-direct and induced jobs already created by oilsands development, it is predicted that the oilsands will create a total of 240,000 new jobs across Canada by 2008. Roughly 60 per cent of these jobs will be inside Alberta, with the majority in the manufacturing sector. Oilsands companies in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) have projected that they will be hiring about 6,000 new, permanent operations positions from 2006 to 2011. Another 9,000 will also be required to replace workers lost due to attrition.

Oilsands companies provide direct employment for a workforce with trade, engineering, technological, management and administrative skills. The plants operate year round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so many of the jobs are shift work. Buses transport workers from Fort McMurray to oilsands surface mines and plant sites.

Workers do not start as labourers and work their way up in oilsands companies. Skills are acquired by completing certificate, diploma or degree programs. Direct or related experience may be specified for some levels of employment. Power engineers (also called steam or stationary engineers) are employed at both types of oilsands plants. Both types of oilsands producers contract drilling companies to drill core samples for delineation programs. Oil is produced by non-conventional methods around Fort McMurray in the RMWB by mining oilsands and In-situ methods (the most common is SAGD).

For labourer jobs, look at the February 2008 Labour Market News, or the document The Life of an Oilsands Construction Project.

Open Pit Mining
Companies that operate open-pit mines employ between 800 to 4,000 workers. Heavy equipment operators are required at mining sites. Experience is required and in some cases, courses such as Keyano College’s Mine Operators Program is highly recommended.

In-situ (e.g. SAGD)
SAGD plants currently employ between 30 to 65 workers. Heavy equipment operators are seldom required at SAGD oilsands plants. Companies contracted to drill the SAGD well pairs are based elsewhere in Alberta. Although well pairs for SAGD operations can be drilled throughout the year, most core drilling is conducted during the winter between freeze up and spring thaw.

Gas
Gas is produced from shallow wells in this area, however, more are located in northwestern Alberta. Fewer wells operate now as the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board ordered gas production wells shut-in on leases adjacent to deep oilsands deposits. The resulting low pressure created by the removal of natural gas is thought to hinder oil production at SAGD projects.

Conventional Oil
Conventional oil is defined as "petroleum found in liquid form, flowing naturally or capable of being pumped without further processing or dilution" by Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). While drilling companies are contracted to drill core samples to assess oilsands deposits and to drill wells for SAGD oilsands projects, there is not much work here. Look to northwestern Alberta.

For a list of drilling companies that operate in the area visit (NOC 8) Occupations Unique to Primary Industry and look under Drilling Rigs. Also, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service for more information on specific jobs, wages and education needed. Another good resource for wages is the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors.

For more information on Employment in the oil sands look at the December 2006 Labour Market News.