Job prospects Backhoe Mechanic in Prince Edward Island

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "backhoe mechanic" in Prince Edward Island or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Prince Edward Island

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be very good for Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) in Prince Edward Island for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

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

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics are employed in various industries, including machinery and equipment wholesale, construction, repair and maintenance, and agriculture. The demand for workers in this occupation is expected to remain favourable given the strong level of construction activity in the province and the continuous need to service agricultural equipment. Further, opportunities are expected to arise as there will be a need to replace workers who retire. There is year-round demand for experienced and qualified workers in the labour market. Employment opportunities in other provinces may impact on the available pool of heavy duty mechanics in P.E.I.

Less experienced workers can expect to face challenges in the labour market, and may be more likely to obtain employment during peak seasons, and then be subject to layoffs until the next season. Advances in technology and the increased use of sophisticated equipment and machinery are generating demand for highly skilled workers in this occupation.

Here are some key facts about Heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Prince Edward Island:

• Approximately 250 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 27%
  • Other services (except public administration) (NAICS 81): 24%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 19%
  • Agriculture (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, 1152): 12%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 7%
• 73% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics work all year, while 27% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
• 11% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics are self-employed compared to an average of 13% 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: 17% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 21% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 36% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 17% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: n/a
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a