Job prospects Excavator Operator in Yukon

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "excavator operator" in Yukon or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Yukon

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 28, 2026. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be Moderate for heavy equipment operators (NOC 73400) in Yukon for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

• This occupation will benefit from public and private construction projects scheduled in the Yukon over the forecast period, such as a new recreation centre in Dawson and Yukon University's new science building.
• Employment opportunities in this occupation may be constrained by automation and digital transformation initiatives.

Here are some key facts about heavy equipment operators in Yukon:

• Approximately 300 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Heavy equipment operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 35%
  • Public Administration and Defence (NAICS 91): 30%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 25%
• 53% of heavy equipment operators work all year, while 47% 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 40 weeks compared to 44 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of heavy equipment operators are self-employed compared to an average of 14% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 88% compared to 49% for all occupations
  • Women: 13% compared to 51% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 28% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 45% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 16% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 10% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: n/a
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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