Job prospects Heavy Equipment Operator - Tractor-loader-backhoe  in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "heavy equipment operator - tractor-loader-backhoe " in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

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

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

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

Employment in this occupation is primarily in the construction sector, as well as the mining and oil and gas extraction sector. 

Here are some key facts about heavy equipment operators in British Columbia:

• Approximately 11,100 people work in this occupation.
• Heavy equipment operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 51%
  • Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 17%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 95% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 51% of heavy equipment operators work all year, while 49% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 8% of heavy equipment operators are self-employed compared to an average of 17% 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: 23% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 46% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 21% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 8% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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