I get a lot of e-mail from geologists and other folk employed in the mining/drilling sectors. Found this e-mail as I was cleaning up a bit, and decided like our SSMITF, I should share this with you:
Just wanted to say that your website is a great break in my day. I have to say that just about everything you say about people in my generation is true. I am a 27 year old petroleum geologist working in Alberta. The oil industry here has a major labor shortage in all sectors, that does not look like it is going to be getting better any time soon. If you have a bachelors degree in geology you can get a job in the field paying 150K a year for about 140 days work. If you have a MSC you can pick up right out of school a 120k a year job in the office with benefits and a healthy bonus structure along with loads of training and work place education. Engineering, accounting and finance jobs are all about the same in terms of pay and benefits etc. I am willing to be that students in University are not told by their counselors etc that these career paths even exist.
However the industry can not find enough qualified graduates to fill these roles. While in school, of about 15 of us in the department only about 3 work in the oil and gas industry. This is despite the oil companies offering internships paying 30$/hr, sending students all around the world on paid field trips. The attitude is that young people don't want to get into the industry having been told for years that working in Universities, for the government, or for environmental companies is a more noble way to contribute to society.
I am starting to run out of sympathy for people out of work in Canada and the USA when I see jobs advertised for unskilled labor in northern Alberta for 75-100k per year. It scares me to think what will happen when the 80% of the people of my generation realize how much wealth the motivated 20% has created for them selves, and decide to try and spread that wealth around.
People who don't have jobs should jump at the opportunity. For me, the cold weather (relative to cold Minnesota) and the socialist medicine of Canada turn me off.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement. However, bear in mind the resource sector is currently in a boom cycle. I remember the early 80s. The resource sector had imploded. Geology students were looking at very bleak job prospects. The national energy program and collapsing oil prices were turning Fort McMurray into a ghost town.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the boom while it lasts.
The comment is a reasonable one, but there are some things to keep in mind;
ReplyDelete- Including finance and accounting in his assessment is an exaggeration.
- $30 per hour will barely cover your rent in Ft.Mac, that is how outrageous the cost of living is.
- The very, very few women in the area are 3s and lower, or working girls.
- Living on the site is not for everyone, I would say 1 out of every 10 people would get any enjoyment out of it. And very few of them are the blogging type.
- Meth
I keep hearing about these jobs at school from places like this. For those of us with no clue as to the places to look for these job postings, (a lot of company sites show a few jobs, not the massive voids I hear about), where the hell do we look? I am more than fine in the field, just gotta find the ins. Any help from your man in the field Cap?
ReplyDeleteLots of jobs in Calgary & Edmonton. Great places to live and play. Lotsa ladies, 50 50 split population.
ReplyDeletePay scales are distorted upwards, everyone makes good coin.
Socialists were in power in the early 80's and messed things up, as usual. I lived through it all - had to wait for it to pass.
What nobody tells you is that there is a thriving private school business in certifications for working in the oilfields.
ReplyDeleteFor example, from http://www.suncor.com/en/careers/3069.aspx
Warehouse Technician: A minimum of Level 1 certification in the Provincial Warehouse Technician Program is required.
There are also various levels of first-aid, pipe fitter and other certifications needed.
There are few jobs for unskilled, and those that are there will see their high pay eaten by high expenses.
Everyone seems talk about the skill shortage, but no one is willing to invest in training.
There are plenty of >$80k jobs in Mining/Geology in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Vancouver, for those who do not want to live Ft McMoney; there are also some good opportunities to be had in Saskatoon and Calgary.
ReplyDeleteOf course, for the GTA area jobs a master's, relevant work experience and willingness to travel (the mountain will not travel to you, that's for sure) do help.
I know a whole bunch of guys (and gals) from Montreal/southern Ontario who live at mine camps (i.e work) for just five months a year, 2 weeks in/2 weeks out, and the wages are not bad. Said camps have fantastic cafeterias and decent facilities (one has two gyms and an indoor sports room, great for volleyball, 5-a-side, etc.).
I'd rather work 5 months a year in a scruffy camp in Fort Mac at $120/year than serving tables in Toronto or Vancouver for 12 months/year whilst earning minimum wage; you will acquire more practical (and life) experience in Fort Mac, besides a nice savings cushion for the down-turn, when it happens.
It's all over North America. Why do you think Midland has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country?
ReplyDeleteMost company's provide the necessary safety certs.
I can tell you with 100% certainty that most graduates today do not want the work. It's too hard. It's too many hours. It's too far from home. All kinds of excuses.
I work in an office in Denver, making 220k a year with an associates degree. That's it... nothing special.
We hire people starting out at 80k and within 6 months they can be making 150k. Within 2 years they can be making 400k. We hire nonstop because we can't keep people (attrition after 6 months is about 80%). I work with 13 other people in this office right now and 7 of us are on work visa's from all over the world because REAL American's (not all of them) don't want the job.
I laugh and collect the pay. My job will be secure until the day I die.
As far as I know there are not many geology jobs in Fort Mac. Most are based in Calgary. If you chose well site work you can live where ever you want and travel to the job site.
ReplyDeleteAlso student internships are often based in the major cities in most cases.
Camp life isn't ideal and for some people it sucks but almost all geologist experience it early on and transfer into other roles.
I am an aussie and even though aus has a resour,es boom and a supposed shortage of workers it seems impossible to get into the industry. Any advice? Or any advice how to get into the canadian of Merican industries? I am unskilled labourer but willing to do any training or get any certs.
ReplyDelete