Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
This group includes excavating, grading, paving, drilling and blasting contractors who own and operate their own business. It also includes supervisors who supervise and coordinate the activities of workers classified in the following groups:
- Crane operators (NOC 72500)
- Drillers and blasters surface mining, quarrying and construction (NOC 73402)
- Heavy equipment operators (NOC 73400)
- Longshore workers (NOC 75100)
- Material handlers (NOC 75101)
- Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers (74205)
- Railway yard and track maintenance workers (NOC 74200)
- Water well drillers (NOC 72501)
- Public works and maintenance labourers (75212)
These workers are employed in a wide range of establishments; workplaces are indicated in the above group descriptions.
Job Titles
Duties
Contractors and supervisors in this group perform some or all of the following duties:
- Supervise, co-ordinate and schedule the activities of workers who operate cranes and construction, paving, drilling, railway maintenance and other similar heavy equipment
- Set up methods to meet work schedules and coordinate work activities with other project supervisors or managers
- Order materials and supplies
- Solve work problems and recommend work measures to improve productivity
- Train or arrange for training of workers
- Recommend personnel actions such as hirings and promotions
- Make sure standards for safe working conditions are met
- Prepare production and other reports
- May manage the operations of own company
- May also supervise, coordinate and schedule the activities of related apprentices, helpers and labourers
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
6,070% Employed Full Time
69%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place indoors and outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions
- Work may take place in dangerous locations such as construction sites
- Airborne particles such as sand and sawdust may be present in the workplace
Career Pathways
There is some movement among jobs within a specific trade; however, there is little or no intertrade movement between the occupations in this group.
Small businesses' contractors may execute tasks within their trade area of expertise, which is generally not the case for supervisors or contractors associated with a medium or large business.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school is usually required
- Several years of experience in the occupation supervised is required
- Journeyman/woman trade certification in a relevant trade may be required
Workers who are certified for an occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Motivating, developing and directing people as they work, and identifying the best people for the job.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
6,070Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 320 | 5.3% |
| Kootenay | 275 | 4.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,935 | 48.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 265 | 4.4% |
| Northeast | 120 | 2.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 1,185 | 19.5% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 970 | 16.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
3,260Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 170 | 0.8% |
| Kootenay | 90 | -0.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,610 | 1.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 170 | 1.3% |
| Northeast | 50 | -0.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 690 | 1.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 480 | 0.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Construction | 2,420 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 370 |
| Public Administration | 150 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 60 |
| Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction | 50 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
