Job prospects Machine Operator - Mineral And Metal Processing in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "machine operator - mineral and metal processing" in Alberta or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Alberta

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 Limited for machine operators, mineral and metal processing (NOC 94100) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Here are some key facts about machine operators, mineral and metal processing in Alberta:

• Approximately 350 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Machine operators, mineral and metal processing mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Primary metal manufacturing (NAICS 331): 26%
  • Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing (NAICS 327): 12%
  • Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 11%
  • Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 11%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 11%
• 70% of machine operators, mineral and metal processing work all year, while 30% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 89% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: 11% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 21% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 41% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 15% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 15% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Alberta by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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