Job prospects Powerline Technician in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "powerline technician" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Electrical power line and cable workers (NOC 72203) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of 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.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies
• Construction, especially electrical contractors

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Provincial utility providers are making large investments in pole replacement and grid modernization
• Several projects to upgrade, reinforce, and expand transmission networks and power supply in municipalities across the province
• Healthy levels of construction also bode well for these workers

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• There are two voluntary skilled trades associated with this occupation in Ontario–powerline technician and light rail overhead contact systems linesperson
• Training or completion of an apprenticeship is usually required.

Here are some key facts about Electrical power line and cable workers in Ontario:

• Approximately 6,100 people work in this occupation.
• Electrical power line and cable workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Utilities (NAICS 22): 67%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 27%
• 75% of electrical power line and cable workers work all year, while 25% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of electrical power line and cable workers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% 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: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 9% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 46% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 40% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario 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 "powerline technician" Electrical power line and cable workers (NOC 72203) or across Canada.

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