Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction
Industry Overview
Mining establishments are primarily involved in exploring, extracting and developing properties of naturally occurring solid minerals, such as coal and ores.
Oil and gas extraction involves removing liquids (crude petroleum) and gases (natural gas) from underground.
Key Facts
- The Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction industry in B.C. is particularly sensitive to global economic conditions, as many of its products are exported to other countries.
- Men make up a large majority of the workforce in this industry.
- Wages in this industry are well above the provincial average.
- Most of the employment in the industry is full-time, permanent positions.
- Most of the employment in this industry occurs in the Kootenay, Thompson-Okanagan, and Northeast regions of the province.
Hourly Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Below are the average hourly earnings for this industry.
B.C. Average Hourly Earnings (2023)
| Men | $38.00/hr |
| Women | $32.00/hr |
| Youth | $21.00/hr |
Industry Average Hourly Earnings (2023)
| Men | $49.38/hr |
| Women | $43.76/hr |
| Youth | $37.72/hr |
Workforce
The workforce includes people who are employed or unemployed but actively looking for work. The workforce is made up of people who are 15 years of age and older and living in Canada.
Employment by Sex (2023)
BC Average (2023)
Employment by Age Group
| Age Group | Industry Average (2023) | B.C. Average (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 - 24 years | 3.5% | 13.3% |
| 25 - 54 years | 81.2% | 64.8% |
| 55+ years | 15.3% | 21.9% |
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.
Latest Employment Trends
Mar 2025 vs. Feb 2025
Employment
% Change
Employment by Region
| Region | % Employment this Industry (2023) | % Employment All Industries (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 9.4% | 3.0% |
| Kootenay | 23.9% | 2.9% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 22.6% | 64.5% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 4.4% | 1.6% |
| Northeast | 15.5% | 1.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 15.0% | 10.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 9.2% | 15.8% |
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 Average Annual Employment Growth Rate
Forecasted 10-Year Industry Share of Total Employment
Top Occupations by Job Openings
Top occupations are those with stronger demand and offer higher pay compared to other occupations.
Resources
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Enformhttp://www.enform.ca/
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InfoMinehttp://www.infomine.com/countries/canada.asp
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Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC)https://www.mining.bc.ca
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Mining Association of Canada (MAC)https://www.mining.ca
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North American Industry Classification Systemhttp://www.statcan.gc.ca/concepts/industry-industrie-eng.htm
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Northwest Gas Associationhttp://www.nwga.org/
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Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC)https://www.psac.ca
