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Public Works Maintenance Equipment Operators  (NOC 7422)
Annapolis Valley Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

This unit group includes workers who operate vehicles and equipment to maintain streets, highways and sewer systems and operate garbage trucks to remove garbage and refuse. They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal public works departments and by private contractors under contract with government public works departments.

garbage truck driver, municipal maintenance equipment operator, public works maintenance equipment operator, salt truck operator, sand spreader operator, sanitation truck driver, sewer flusher operator-driver – public works, sewer-flushing truck operator, snow removal equipment operator – public works, street flusher operator, street sweeper operator, street sweeper operator – public works.

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Public works maintenance equipment operators perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Operate garbage trucks to remove garbage and other refuse and dump loads at designated sites
  • Operate street cleaning equipment such as street sweepers or other vehicles equipped with rotating brushes to remove sand, litter and trash
  • Operate snowploughs or trucks fitted with plough blades to remove snow from streets, highways, parking lots and similar areas
  • Operate sewer maintenance equipment such as rodders and sewer jet cleaners to maintain and repair sewer systems
  • Operate trucks equipped with road sanding and other similar apparatus
  • Check, lubricate, refuel and clean equipment and report any malfunctions to supervisor.
Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Berwick, Bridgetown, Hantsport, Kentville, Middleton, Windsor, Wolfville

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Public Works Maintenance Equipment Operators in Annapolis Valley Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

National Outlook – 10-Year Projection (2011-2020)

This section provides labour demand and labour supply projections for this occupation over the 2011-2020 period.

Note: The tables, graphs and middle paragraph shown under this section display updated 2011-2020 projection results. The remaining narrative text (2009-2018 projections) will be updated shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The data in the following table are derived from HRSDC’s Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS). COPS uses a variety of models to produce a detailed 10-year labour market projection per broad skill level and per occupation at the national level, which focuses on the trends of labour supply and labour demand over the next ten years.

This occupation (Public Works Maintenance Equipment Operators) is part of a larger occupational group called Heavy Equipment Operators (NOC 742).

Table on the demographic profile for your chosen occupation at the national level.
Occupations in this group Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane) (7421) 
Public Works Maintenance Equipment Operators (7422) 
Employment (non-student) in 2010 91,427
Median Age of workers in 2010 42
Average Retirement Age in 2010 59

Occupation Projection for Canada

Over the 2008-2010 period, this occupation experienced a decline in employment and a sharp increase in the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate was higher than the average for all occupations (14.1% compared to 7.6% in 2010). The average hourly wage increased at the same rate as the average for all occupations. According to key labour market indicators, the number of job seekers was more than sufficient to fill job openings in this occupation.

Over the 2011-2020 period, an occupation will be in excess demand (a shortage of workers) if the projected number of job openings is significantly greater than the projected number of job seekers. An occupation will be in excess supply (a surplus of workers) if the projected number of job openings is smaller than the projected number of job seekers. For Heavy Equipment Operators, over the 2011-2020 period, job openings (arising from expansion demand and replacement demand) are expected to total 44,405 and 44,003 job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill the job openings.

Based on projections and considering that labour supply was exceeding demand in this occupation, it is expected that the number of job seekers will continue to be more than sufficient to fill job openings over the 2011-2020 period. Retirements will be the primary source of employment and the retirement rate will be just above the average. The number of job openings resulting from economic growth will be higher over the projection period than over the 2001-2010 period. The economic recovery will be responsible for employment growth in construction, particularly in the energy and infrastructure sectors, over the projection period. In terms of supply, job seekers will come primarily from the school system and from other occupations. The strong mobility toward this occupation is due to the sustained employment growth in the construction industry since 2001, as well as the favourable employment conditions, specifically the wages, that are offered.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.

This Chart contains data for Projection of Job Openings vs. Job Seekers for Canada. Information is available in the following tables.
Table of job opening projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category Openings %
Expansion Demand 14,357 32%
Retirements 25,002 56%
Other Replacement Demand 2,938 7%
Emigration 2,108 5%
Projected Job Openings 44,405 100%
Table of job seeker projections for the occupational group containing your chosen occupation.
Category Seekers %
School Leavers 20,158 46%
Immigration 1,114 3%
Other 22,732 52%
Projected Job Seekers 44,003 100%
[ Source: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) ]

In which industry or sector do people in this occupation find jobs in Canada?

This table shows the industry and sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.

This table shows the industry sectors employing the highest number of people in this occupation.
Industry / Sector %
Transportation and warehousing 40.80
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services 40.20
Public administration 5.40
Construction 4.50
Utilities 4.10
[ Source: 2006 Census - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are self-employed?

The graph displays the percentage of people in this occupation who are “self-employed”, according to the 2006 Census, in comparison to the Canadian average across all occupations.

As shown in the graph, according to the 2006 Census, 6% of people in this occupation were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 12%.

The Labour Force Survey also gives us some information about self-employment. This occupation (Public Works Maintenance Equipment Operators) is part of a larger group called Heavy Equipment Operators (NOC 742). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), 11% of workers in this group were self-employed, while the average for all occupations was 16%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]

What percentage of people in this occupation are members of a union?

This occupation (Public Works Maintenance Equipment Operators) is part of a larger group called Heavy Equipment Operators (NOC 742). According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the unionization rate for this group was 47%, while the unionization rate for all occupations was 31%.

[ Source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada | Legal note ]
Please consult the Annapolis Valley Region and Nova Scotia tabs for more useful information related to outlook.