Canada is one of the most oil and gas-rich countries in the world and the oil and gas industry is important for the Canadian economy. Not only does it make a significant contribution to Canada’s GDP, but it is also a large employment sector, especially in provinces known for their oil and gas production.
In this article, we have collated statistics on the oil and gas industry in Canada. We look at the current situation of the industry as well as what the future may hold for the Canadian oil and gas industry as people in Canada and across the world look for greener alternatives.
Oil and Gas Industry Statistics for Canadians
- Canada is the third most oil-rich country in the world with a 10.4% share of the world’s oil reserves.
- In 2024, crude oil and oil products, such as gas, rose 6.8%. At 23.9 million cubic metres, this production increases every month.
- The gross revenue of the oil and gas industry was $175 billion in 2025.
- The total assets of oil and gas extraction companies were $496.8 billion in 2024.
- Alberta produces over 80% of oil in Canada.
- About 93% of Canadian crude oil is exported to the United States.
- Canada has seventeen oil refineries with Alberta having the largest refining capacity.
- Alberta and British Columbia produce 98% of Canada’s natural gas.
- 205,900 people worked in the oil and gas industry in early 2025.
- Only 19.5% of the oil and gas employees are women and 9% are Indigenous people.
- The average salary across the oil, gas, mining, and energy industries in Canada is $108,000.
Oil and Gas Industry in Canada
Canada has significant reserves of conventional and unconventional oil and gas resources. Canadian oil production is focused in the west of the country, especially in Alberta. Canada’s proven oil reserves remain among the world’s largest — estimated at around 168 – 170 billion barrels (about 10 % of global reserves), with the majority in oil sands. The largest oil reserves are found in Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, which have around 18.2 % and 16.2 % of the total reserves, respectively.
Canada also produces natural gas, with reserves and production primarily in provinces such as British Columbia, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. Producing natural gas involves extracting gas from underground reservoirs and processing it so it is suitable for various uses, such as heating. In 2025, Canada’s natural gas production averaged about 19 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), making it the fifth-largest producer globally and accounting for roughly 5 % of world natural gas supply.
Canada is currently the fourth-largest oil producer in the world, with production near 6.0 million barrels per day in 2024, including oil sands, conventional, offshore, and liquids.
The oil and gas market is expected to experience growth at a rate of over 1.8 % per year between 2022 and 2027 despite the impact of COVID-19. During the pandemic, oil production in Canada fell by almost 20 % from 5.5 million barrels per day in 2019.
Primary energy production increased in 2024, with crude oil accounting for nearly half (about 47.7 %) of total energy production and natural gas about 36 %. Exports also grew, with approximately 80.5 % of Canada’s crude oil and 38.3 % of its natural gas production exported in 2024.
The contribution to Canada’s GDP was approximately $208.8 billion in 2023 (about 7.7 % of nominal GDP) under a broad measure that includes direct and indirect impacts, and the core oil-and-gas extraction sub‑industry alone contributed roughly $71 – $74 billion in 2024 (around 3.3 % of GDP). In addition, the industry generated tens of billions of dollars in government revenue (taxes, royalties, and related payments) between 2021 and 2023, estimated at about $94.5 billion over that period.
Oil and Gas Industry Revenue
In recent years, the Canadian oil and gas industry has continued to see high overall revenues, though with fluctuation due to global movements. After the recovery in 2021 — when oil prices reached their highest level since 2015 and total gross revenue increased to $174 billion (an 85.7 % rise from 2020) — industry revenues climbed further in the following years. In 2022, total revenue rose to about $269.9 billion, reflecting continued strong global energy demand.
For 2025, industry estimates point to annual gross revenues in the range of approximately $172 billion – $178 billion, slightly lower than 2024 levels. This is largely due to lower global oil and gas prices compared with earlier post‑pandemic peaks.
Oil Industry Assets
The Canadian oil and gas extraction companies’ total assets were $452.9 billion in 2021. This was a 2.6 % increase from 2020. In 2022, the total assets were $489.8 billion, up 8.2 % in a year. In 2023, total assets were about $487.7 billion and in 2024 they increased further to approximately $496.8 billion, reflecting continued growth in industry capital holdings.
Alberta Produces the Vast Majority of Canadian Oil
Most of Canada’s crude oil is produced in the western parts of the country, particularly in Alberta. Around 94% of the oil production is in the west, with just 6%, in the east, centred in Newfoundland and Labrador.
According to Statista, Alberta produces 82.4% of Canada’s oil, Saskatchewan 10.4%, Manitoba 0.8%, and British Columbia 0.3%. Just 0.1% is produced in provinces outside these western provinces and Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador are the only provinces producing heavy oil.
Crude Oil is an Important Export for Canada
While Canada has the third largest oil reserves in the world, it is the fourth largest producer of oil in the world after the US, Saudi Arabia, and Russia (with China ranking below Canada in recent production data). Canada supplies roughly 6 % of global crude and condensate production. Due to the pandemic, Canadian oil exportation decreased by 2.7 % in 2020. However, in total exporting oil has increased by 87 % since 2010.
In addition to being the largest oil producer in the world, the United States is also the biggest buyer of Canadian oil. In 2024, approximately 93 % of Canadian crude oil exports were sold to the United States, with around 7 % going to non‑U.S. destinations. Of the other exports, a share continued to be refined domestically (Canada’s own refining/refueling of crude products) before the rest was exported to other countries.
Refined Petroleum Production in Canada
Refined petroleum products (RPPs) are products refined from crude oil, which include diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, and heating oil. It is the main energy type consumed by Canadian end users. There are seventeen oil refineries in Canada, with Alberta having the largest capacity to refine oil at 27%.
It is followed by Ontario with 20%, Quebec with 19%, and New Brunswick with 16%. Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia also have refining capacities. The largest refinery in Canada is in Saint John, New Brunswick. The Irving Oil Refinery can refine 320,000 barrels in a day.
Natural Gas and Liquids
According to the Canada Energy Regulator, Canada was the fifth biggest producer of natural gas in the world in 2024 with an average production of 18.0 billion cubic feet per day. 98 % of Canada’s natural gas originates in Alberta and British Columbia, with about half of the natural gas production in Alberta. Smaller amounts of natural gas are produced in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and the Northwest Territories.
Employment in the Oil and Gas Industry
The Canadian oil and gas industry employed around 205,900 workers in early 2025 according to Careers in Energy. The number of workers changed from the same period in 2024 by about –0.7 %. The number of workers in the exploration and production sectors was up by 5.5 % and 1.6 % respectively. The services sector workforce increased by 1.2 %.
The majority of jobs, roughly 140,800 in July 2025, were in Alberta. Most of the workers in the industry are full-time employees. Only about 5,900 worked part‑time in Q1 2025. About 200,000 were employed full‑time and 5,900 part‑time across the energy industry in Q1 2025.
Oil and Gas Industry Worker Demographics
In April 2025, only 19.5 % of workers in the oil and gas industry in Canada were women. The largest age group remained 35–44‑year‑olds, representing about 33.0 % of the total workforce, with about 25 % aged 45–54, 19 % aged 25–34, 17 % over 55, and 5 % aged 15–24. Women’s share of employment rose slightly from earlier years but stayed below 20 % for 2025 overall.
In 2024, about 7.3 % of industry employees were Indigenous people, compared with roughly 3.5 % across all industries. The share of immigrant employees in the energy workforce was about 19.5 % in 2024, lower than the overall Canadian average.
Career Options in the Oil and Gas Industry in Canada
There are many career options within the oil and gas industry in a range of categories. They include:
- Business and Operations Support
- Engineers
- Environmental, Regulatory, and Stakeholder Engagement
- Geoscience Professionals
- Information Technology Roles
- Labourers
- Operators
- Technicians and Technologists
- Trades
Furthermore, there are several different job titles under each category. For example, a labourer in the oil and gas industry can work as a part of the marine engine room crew or as a field dispatcher. Engineering roles range from automation engineers to environmental engineers and roles in the operations side from administrative assistants to business development managers.
Average Salaries in the Oil and Gas Industry in Canada
There are large variations in the salaries within the Canadian oil and gas industry depending on the role a person is employed in. The average salary is $108,000 according to Salary Explorer. However, the lowest average salary is $39,100 and the highest average is $249,000. Salaries from the energy and mining industries are also included in these averages.
Some of the lower-paying jobs include a pipeline technician at $40,700, an oilwell pumper at $40,800, and a driller offsider with an average salary of $40,400. At the other end of the scale, are job titles such as a geologist with $200,000, a power plant operations manager with $216,000, and an electrical and gas operations manager with an average salary of $257,000.
The Future of the Canadian Oil and Gas Industry
It is estimated that by 2035 oil production in Canada will increase by approximately 1.27 million barrels per day. The production from oil sands is expected to be 4.25 million barrels per day by 2035 compared to 2.9 million barrels in 2018. The growth is slower than predicted by CAPP in its 2018 report, possibly because of the global shift towards cleaner energy sources.
The Canadian government, too, is committed to a transition to cleaner energy sources and aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, which could lead to a decreased demand for traditional oil and gas products. Considering the increased focus on green and sustainable energy, companies that reduce their carbon footprint and prioritize sustainably could be more likely to thrive in the future.
Conclusion
Canada has one of the biggest oil and natural gas reserves in the world and the oil and gas industry is important for the Canadian economy through its contribution to the GDP, taxes paid, and the number of people it employs, especially in provinces that are rich in oil and natural gas.
The industry is expected to continue growing in the future, although its growth rate could be impacted by the move towards greener and more sustainable energy sources both in Canada and across the globe.
Frequently Asked Questions
There were around 205,900 workers in early 2025 in the Canadian oil and gas industry. The majority of the oil and gas industry jobs are in Alberta, which produces the most oil in Canada.
Much of Canada’s oil production is centered in the western parts of the country. Alberta is the biggest oil producer in Canada and produces 82.4% of the total. Saskatchewan is the second largest with a 10.4% share of the total. The only province in the east of the country that produces oil is Newfoundland and Labrador, which has a 6% share of the total oil production in Canada.
Alberta is also the biggest producer of natural gas in Canada followed by British Columbia. These two provinces provide 98% of the country’s natural gas with half of that produced in Alberta.
How much you can earn varies hugely depending on the job title. At the lower end of the payscale are jobs just as driller offsider with an average salary of $40,000 and at the higher end of the payscale are positions such as electrical and gas operations manager, with an average salary of $257,000.
There are some women working in the oil and gas industry in Canada, but they only represent one-fifth of the total workforce. Many of the roles held by women are administrative roles rather than in the field, for example, labourers or technicians.
Canada has some of the largest reserves of oil and gas in the world and the country will continue to produce both in the future and the industry is expected to continue growing. However, the growth is expected to be at a lower rate as countries, including Canada, continue to push toward more renewable and greener energy sources.