Job prospects High Voltage Lineman/linewoman in Nova Scotia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "high voltage lineman/linewoman" in Nova Scotia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Nova Scotia

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. 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 electrical power line and cable workers (NOC 72203) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Electrical power line and cable workers is one of the trades that is expected to experience a worsening shortage of workers over the next several years, as retirements outnumber the number of new entrants.

Nova Scotia Power is the major employer of workers in this occupation and requires applicants to have an Inter-Provincial Red Seal Powerline Technician Certificate. The utility also has a 3.5-year Power Line Technician Apprenticeship program.

Here are some key facts about electrical power line and cable workers in Nova Scotia:

• Approximately 350 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Electrical power line and cable workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Utilities (NAICS 22): 61%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 36%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 63% of electrical power line and cable workers work all year, while 37% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of electrical power line and cable workers are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: n/a
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 7% compared to 27% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 51% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 37% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 20% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Nova Scotia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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