Heavy Equipment Operators

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

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

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

• Demand for this occupation is driven by construction activity in residential, commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects initiated through private and government investment.
• Key trends in this occupation include enhanced safety, such as 360-degree cameras, proximity sensors, and collision avoidance systems, along with an increasing use of electric and hybrid equipment to reduce emissions.
• Jobs are concentrated in the Parklands, North, Southeast and Interlake regions.

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

• Approximately 2,950 people work in this occupation.
• Heavy equipment operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 67%
  • Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 9%
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 6%
• 53% of heavy equipment operators work all year, while 47% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 5% of heavy equipment operators are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 94% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: 6% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 35% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 46% compared to 31% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 13% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations