Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are things picking up now in Fort McMurray?

A lot of construction projects were on hold with the slowdown in the economy. Despite this, the labour market was not as severely affected as in other parts of the province, and with recent project and construction announcements from major oil companies, things are picking up. Demand for trades and construction work is growing, and demand for experienced workers never went away. See our Wood Buffalo Economic Update report and the Oil Sands Project Report for more info.

2. I want a camp job. Can you tell me which companies offer this?

This is a hard question to answer because it depends on a number of things—the job position, the proximity to Fort McMurray, the contract with the oilsands company. Generally though, the major oilsands companies that are close to Fort McMurray do not provide camp housing for its direct employees (e.g. Syncrude, Suncor, Shell Albian Sands), unless they have a position that is extremely difficult to fill. The rooms are distributed to the contractors based on their workforce needs and the contract they sign. Sites further away, such as Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL), Suncor Firebag and many of the in-situ sites to the south of Fort McMurray, provide camp housing contracts. But whether or not every employee gets camp housing is all dependant on the contract and/or their collective bargaining agreement (if they have one).
Whether or not a job comes with camp housing depends on the company and the job, so it's something that you have to negotiate with the employer. Read more.

3. I want to be a labourer, make lots of money, stay in a camp and I have no experience. Can you get me a job?

No, we can't give you a job or pass your résumé onto employers, but we can give you the names of the companies that hire in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). We provide labour market information for employment in the area. Finding a job is a process and still takes time and hard work to make a good connection with an employer.
You must do your research. Jobs generally pay more in the RMWB than in other centres, but it may still not be enough to pay for housing. Housing is expensive and scarce and if you are thinking you will find a job immediately after you get here, you are mistaken. It takes time to get work here too. Contrary to popular belief, employers are not waiting at the airport recruiting.
The employers in the RMWB are looking for skilled and trained workers. There are generally not high-paid positions for unskilled labour. Read Experience Counts: What it takes to be a labourer in Wood Buffalo for more info.

4. I am from Ontario and I have been a welder (or pipefitter, or electrician, or carpenter...) for 20 years but I don't have a ticket. Can I get a job?

Employers want skilled labour. They are looking for Alberta-certified ticketed journeymen and indentured apprentices or tradespeople with their Interprovincial Red Seal. If you have your journeyman ticket from another province than Alberta, you can take the Interprovincial Red Seal exam.
The major employers in the RMWB require these, and now many contractors are also asking for the same qualifications.
You can also apply for your Qualification Certificate Program through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

5. I am having a hard time getting a job. Can I just come out there and get a job in Fort McMurray?

Yes, but it's not recommended. There is work available in Wood Buffalo, but it is still a process. Even if the process of getting a job only take a couple of weeks, you still need a place to live. Housing is expensive and scarce and landlords require that you pay damage deposit (usually worth one month's rent) and first and last month's rent. According to a Fort McMurray survey taken in October 2011 on apartment rental rates, the average one-bedroom apartment is $1,694 a month. It would cost you over $5,000 just to move into an apartment.
Most employers have websites and only accept résumés through their online process. You would be no further ahead if you went to Fort McMurray.
If you do decide to come before acquiring employment, do as much research as you can before you come and make sure you can afford to live here first. (Also, book a hotel or motel before you come. At some times of year ALL hotels/motels are booked up to a month in advance.)
It is true that word of mouth counts! Talk to as many people as you can before moving to make contacts and build your job search network.

6. What is housing like in Fort McMurray?

Housing is expensive and scarce. Do your research before you come.

7. Are there any employers who will fly me in and out of Fort McMurray?

Yes, but it's not as common as it was at the height of the previous construction boom. Employers used the fly-in, fly-out bonus as a way to attract and retain good staff. Cutting down on this bonus was one of the first things employers did to cut costs, and they haven't generally started offering this again. The more remote sites do offer fly-in/fly-out but often only from a few places, like Edmonton or Calgary.

8. Will employers help me with my immigration needs?

That depends on the position you are applying for and the amount of training and skills you have and whether those skills need to be updated to meet Canadian standards. Employers in the RMWB look for workers in their community first, then in the rest of Alberta, then across Canada, then outside of Canada. Some employers have a hard time looking internationally because work experience and references are so hard to check.
If you are a professional and have a university degree, employers may be willing to help you with your immigration needs. If there is a Canadian or Alberta association for the field you are working in, contact them for more information (E.g. APEGGA – the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta). Also, Alberta Employment and Immigration provides a service to determine a person's international qualifications, called International Qualification Assessment Service (IQAS).
If you are a tradesperson, you will more likely be given a chance at employment in Canada by getting the Interprovincial Red Seal certification before applying.
Some employers travel to other countries to hold a recruiting campaign. If you are hired in this way, those employers will help you to come here. To find out about any recruiting campaigns, contact your country's government office that deals with employment. These campaigns are not advertised here, so we do not hear about them until after the workers are already in Canada.
Regardless of whether a company helps you come to Canada or not, you should check out the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. This website has all of the information you might need.

9. Is it cold up there?

The average temperatures in Fort McMurray are –20º to 16.5º C (–4.4º to 61.7º F). Look at our About Wood Buffalo page for more information on Fort McMurray and the RMWB, or the Municipality's Newcomer website.

10. I want to move there with my family. Would my wife be able to find a job there too? Will my kids have things to do?

Yes, Fort McMurray is a thriving centre with all of the services and businesses that any large city has. For employer contacts for all areas of work, look at the Employer Websites and choose the category of work that suits your skills and interests. See the Newcomer information provided by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo for recreation, housing, cosst of living and services. Also, look at the Resources section for additional information on career planning, community information, housing and business development.

11. Je ne parle pas anglais. Est-ce que je peux travailler à Fort McMurray?

Pour travailler à Fort McMurray il est important d’avoir une bonne maîtrise de la langue anglaise. Ensuite, il est important d’avoir une formation adéquate. Beaucoup de gens viennent ici sans aucune formation. C’est une très mauvaise idée. Vérifiez également si l’Alberta reconnaît vos certificats ou votre apprentissage (www.tradesecrets.alberta.ca).
Pour les personnes n’étant pas résident canadien, sachez qu’il vous est impossible de travailler au Canada sans visa de travail. Si vous desirez des informations au sujet d'immigration (disponible en français) SVP contactez le gouvernement à www.cic.gc.ca. (Cet information est pour visiter, travailler temporairement, étudier ou immigrer.)
Il vous faut visiter les sites Internet des compagnies et vérifier s’il y a des emplois disponibles qui correspondent à votre formation et votre expérience. Ce n’est pas vrai que les companies cherchent beaucoup d’ouvrier ou conducteur sans experience ni anglais. C’est une question de sécurité au champ de travail. Pour l’information en anglais: www.woodbuffalo.net/linksEMPLIntro.html ou par couriel: info@woodbuffalo.net.
Pour l’information en français contactez l’association canadienne-française de l’Alberta: www.acfawoodbuffalo.ab.ca, ou par couriel francojob1@acfawoodbuffalo.ab.ca.