Job prospects Diesel Mechanic - Heavy Equipment in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "diesel mechanic - heavy equipment" 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 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) 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?

• Employed across various industries with the largest number in machinery and equipment wholesale, construction, and repair and maintenance services
• A smaller number work in agriculture, mining and manufacturing

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Favourable levels of construction activity led by infrastructure investments in transit, power, and highways and bridges, will support service and maintenance work for heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• Demand for new housing to meet population growth, including the construction of multi-unit buildings in some of Ontario’s largest urban centres
• Investments in manufacturing and mining, may create opportunities at wholesalers of new and used equipment
• Continuous need to service equipment in farming, forestry, waste management and snow clearing

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• There are three voluntary skilled trades associated with this occupation in Ontario, named, Agricultural Equipment Technician, Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician, and Hydraulic/Pneumatic Mechanic

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• In northern Ontario, the mining industry is a major source of work for mechanics.

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

• Approximately 13,100 people work in this occupation.
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 22%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 17%
  • Repair and maintenance (NAICS 811): 16%
  • Real Estate and rental and leasing (NAICS 53): 8%
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 8%
• 74% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics work all year, while 26% 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 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 10% of heavy-duty equipment mechanics 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: 8% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 17% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 37% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 36% 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 "diesel mechanic - heavy equipment" Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) or across Canada.

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