Job prospects Heavy Equipment Operator - Tractor-loader-backhoe  in Northwest Territories

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

Job opportunities in Northwest Territories

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 Northwest Territories for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.

• This occupation will benefit from major public and private construction projects scheduled in Northwest Territories over the forecast period.
• For example, the planned construction of the $1.65 billion Mackenzie Valley Highway, connecting Wrigley to Norman Wells, is expected to generate employment in this occupation when construction begins in 2027 or 2028. Ongoing work at the $4 billion Giant Mine remediation site may also lead to construction employment.
• Employment opportunities in this occupation may be constrained by automation and digital transformation initiatives.

Here are some key facts about heavy equipment operators in Northwest Territories:

• Approximately 300 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Heavy equipment operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 35%
  • Public Administration and Defence (NAICS 91): 30%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 25%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 88% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 12% for all occupations
• 59% of heavy equipment operators work all year, while 41% work only part of the year, compared to 71% and 28% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 44 weeks 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: 39% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 26% compared to 26% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 31% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 18% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: n/a
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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