Heavy Equipment Operators

The employment outlook will be Moderate for heavy equipment operators (NOC 73400) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Most work in the construction industry as site preparation contractors, in highway, street and bridge, and building and utility system construction
• A smaller number work in manufacturing, mining, municipal government, and waste management

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Construction activity is expected to be favourable across Ontario over the forecast period, led by large infrastructure investments in transit, power generation,  and highways and bridges
• Steady demand for housing to meet population growth including multi-unit buildings in larger urban centres
• Expenditures in mining

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• There are three voluntary skilled trades associated with this occupation in Ontario, named, Heavy Equipment Operator – Dozer, Heavy Equipment Operator – Excavator, and Heavy Equipment Operator – Tractor Loader Backhoe.

Here are some key facts about heavy equipment operators in Ontario:

• Approximately 26,150 people work in this occupation.
• Heavy equipment operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 61%
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 9%
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 6%
• 55% of heavy equipment operators work all year, while 45% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 5% of heavy equipment operators are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 24% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 43% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 21% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations