Job prospects Backhoe Mechanic in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "backhoe mechanic" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) in Nova Scotia for the 2023-2025 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 a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Hiring prospects for this occupation vary across different areas of the province. While there is typically not a large number of job vacancies, employers sometimes struggle to find qualified candidates. Jobseekers with Red Seal certification will have less trouble finding work, and may find that this occupation is sometimes combined with a heavy equipment operator role. The number of training seats for this trade is limited in Nova Scotia, so competition among graduates for apprenticeships is not excessive.

Here are some key facts about Heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 1,650 people work in this occupation.
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 22%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 22%
  • Repair and maintenance (NAICS 811): 19%
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 6%
• 68% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics work all year, while 32% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• 8% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 14% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 50% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 33% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: n/a
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "backhoe mechanic" Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) or across Canada.

Learn more