Job prospects Undercutter Operator - Underground Mining in Saskatchewan

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

Job opportunities in Saskatchewan

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Underground production and development miners (NOC 83100) in Saskatchewan 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.

• The mining industry in Saskatchewan is projected to have a heavy demand for workers, up to 15,000 over the next decade driven by ambitious plans for growth of the industry and the aging workforce.
• Having 27 of the 34 critical minerals, provincial and federal investment in the province's mining sector to make it a leader in critical mineral production will support jobs for mining workers.
• Stage one of BHP's Jansen mine is halfway complete with 600 jobs expected when operational in 2026. More long-term jobs are expected once production is fully ramped up with the completion of the Stage 2 mine.
• Investment in automation and digitization of underground extraction activities for increased efficiency, productivity and safety may impact a few jobs and more so job functions and skill requirements for some workers. 

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

• Approximately 2,400 people work in this occupation.
• Underground production and development miners mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 83%
  • Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 8%
• 66% of underground production and development miners work all year, while 34% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 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 16% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 10% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 64% compared to 33% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 19% compared to 15% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 6% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 18% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 7% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Saskatchewan by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology