Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
Career Overview
Workers carry out a variety of labouring duties and operate equipment to assist in the drilling and servicing of oil and gas wells. This group also includes labourers who assist in geophysical prospecting for oil and gas.
People in this occupation:
- Work for drilling and well servicing contractors and petroleum producing companies
- Should have manual dexterity, physical strength and coordination
- Should have an interest in working outdoors and in working with equipment and machinery
- Should possess good communication and teamwork skills, analytical skills and an ability to carry out instructions
Job Titles
Duties
Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers perform the following duties:
- Manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem at the rig floor during drilling and during the removal and replacement of strings of pipe or drill stem and drill bit
- Maintain drilling equipment on the drill floor
- Handle, sort and move drill tools, pipe, cement and other materials; clean up the rig area
- Help setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs and service equipment
- May drive trucks to transport materials and well service equipment
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
505% Employed Full Time
35%Working conditions vary depending on rig locations and weather conditions. Labourers primarily work outdoors and may be exposed to extreme weather conditions. Work is often in remote areas near petroleum resources, and workers are required to travel to and stay either on or near the work site for extended periods of time. Workers are also exposed to dust, noise and fumes that are common around rigs.
Work is physically intense and may involve lifting items that weigh over 25 kilograms. As well, workers may be exposed to potential hazards, including exposure to chemicals (e.g., paint, motor oil and drilling mixtures) and moving machinery. Safety is at the forefront and standard safety practices, safety gear (e.g., hard hats, eye protection, gloves and steel-toed boots) and emergency procedures are strictly enforced.
Most labourers work full time, however, due to the seasonal nature of the work and the impact of weather conditions, full-year employment is uncommon. Relatively few people work part time or are self-employed. Shifts are usually between 8–12 hours in length and rotating shift work is very common, as rigs operate 24 hours per day. The length of shifts will vary by occupation, location and urgency of the job. Labourers may also be required to work longer hours when favourable weather conditions occur.
Career Pathways
This occupation is considered an entry level job. Workers with experience and further education may progress to other occupations, such as senior rig crew positions or other operating positions.
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 generally required to work as a labourer in this occupational group.
Other requirements include:
- Introductory college or Enform courses
- Safety courses including hydrogen sulphide awareness, workplace hazardous materials information systems and transportation of dangerous goods
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!
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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.
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
505Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 15 | 3.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 25 | 5.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 4.0% |
| Northeast | 325 | 64.4% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 75 | 14.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 40 | 7.9% |
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)
120Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 0 | 0.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | 80 | 0.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 20 | 1.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 10 | 0.5% |
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) |
|---|---|
| Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction | 90 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 10 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Due to the small size of this group, openings that arise from job creation and retirements will be relatively small. Despite the small size of this group, the average annual growth in employment over the next several years is expected to grow faster than the provincial average.
Resources
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BC Oil and Gas Commissionwww.bcogc.ca
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Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors (CAGC)www.cagc.ca
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Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC)caodc.ca
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Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)www.capp.ca/
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Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA)www.cepa.com/en/
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Canadian Gas Association (CGA)www.cga.ca
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Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)www.cim.org
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Careers in Oil + Gaswww.careersinoilandgas.com
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Energy Services BC (ESBC)icba.ca/esbc/
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Enformwww.enform.ca/
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Mining Association of BC – Job Boardwww.mining.bc.ca/job-board
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National Energy Board (NEB)www.neb-one.gc.ca/index-eng.html
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Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC)www.psac.ca
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Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC)www.pdac.ca
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Rig Tech – Industry Contactswww.rigtech.ca/live/Industry_Contacts
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SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/
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WorkSafeBCwww.worksafebc.com
