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Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters
What they do?
Crane operators use cranes/draglines to lift/place machinery and other large objects at worksites.
Drillers operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines/quarries and during the construction of building foundations.
Blasters place explosives in blast holes and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore, and rock, and to demolish structures.
Water well drillers operate mobile well drilling rigs/equipment to drill residential, commercial, and industrial water wells.
Where they find work?
1. Construction - 36.0%
2. Primary metal manufacturing - 19.0%
3. Wholesale trade - 6.0%
4. Mining (except oil and gas) - 6.0%
5. Transportation and warehousing - 5.0%
6. Fabricated metal product manufacturing - 4.0%
7. Support activities for mining and oil and gas extraction - 4.0%
What education do I need?
1. In general, you usually need a high school diploma.
2. To be a crane operator, you need an apprenticeship of one to three years or crane operation courses.
3. In some provinces/territories, crane, boom truck, and mobile and tower crane operators require trade certification.
4. To be a mobile crane operator, you may need a licence to drive on public roads. If you have trade certification, you may also obtain interprovincial (Red Seal) trade certification, which provides job mobility throughout the country.
5. To be a driller, you may need heavy equipment operator experience and on-the-job training.
6. To be a blaster, you usually need a blasting licence and may need experience as a blaster helper in surface mining/quarrying. You usually receive on-the-job training.
High School Subject that will help:
1. Math
2. English
3. Mechanics
4. Machine Shop
What can you expect to make:
The average hourly wages for Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters is $21.22/HR, which is close to the average for occupations in the trades, transport and equipment operators sector and close to the average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Average Wage
Expected Wage by Age
Unemployment:
8% of Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.
Unemployment
Trends in Unemployment
Current Job Outlook:
The job outlook for Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters is considered Average because:
1. Employment grew at a below-average rate.
2. The retirement rate is above average, and the number of retiring workers contributes to job openings.
3. Hourly wages ($21.22) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average.
4. The unemployment rate (8%) is above the 2004 average (7%).
Future Job Prospects:
Your job outlook will continue to be Average because:
1. The employment growth rate will likely be average. However, technological advances, such as robotics and computer controls, will likely increase productivity, reducing demand for crane operators.
2. The retirement rate will likely be above average and the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.
3. The number of job openings will likely exceed the number of job seekers. This will not be significant enough to have an impact on the work prospects.
Highest Concetration:
The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of are found in Alberta and Prince Edward Island while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
Unionization Rate:
The unionization rate (62%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations.
Useful Experience:
1. Communication skills
2. Outdoor/physical work
3. Construction/mining
Part Time Workers
Part time workers:
2% of Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters are employed only on a part-time basis. There were 15,300 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, a decrease of 10% since 1997.
Age Demographics
Age Demographics:
The earlier-than-average retirement age (60) combined with an expected older-than-average age (43) of worker will likely result in an above-average retirement rate to 2009.
