Job prospects Undercutter Operator - Underground Mining in Québec

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Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "undercutter operator - underground mining" in Québec or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Québec

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Underground production and development miners (NOC 83100) in Quebec for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Although the situation may change rapidly, this occupation will benefit overall from the anticipated strength of the mining sector. This will be fostered by several positive factors, including the price of gold, which is expected to remain high due to economic uncertainty, and the interest in strategic minerals (lithium). These factors will stimulate exploration and the development of mining projects. Growth in the mining industry is likely to be stronger than in the overall job market in Quebec. 

There will be a particularly high demand in mining regions. However, although mining deposits are mainly found in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Nord-du-Québec and Côte-Nord, fly-in, fly-out services and accommodations are often available for remote work sites.

However, major investments are being made in automation and remote control, which affect the skills required.

Despite this, there will be many needs, as this group is already facing a shortage of qualified workers. While there has been a significant improvement in working conditions in this occupation, they remain difficult, which is leading to staff turnover and additional needs. 

Here are some key facts about Underground production and development miners in Quebec:

• Approximately 6,500 people work in this occupation.
• Underground production and development miners mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 85%
• 48% of underground production and development miners work all year, while 52% 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 40 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of underground production and development miners are self-employed compared to an average of 12% 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: 19% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 17% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 55% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 7% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Québec by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology