The Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada is a national, not-for-profit collaborative forum that addresses human resource issues within the petroleum industry.

The Petroleum HR Council's strategic direction consists of several, multi-year initiatives outlined in a national human resources strategy for the industry entitled The Decade Ahead. The strategy aims to address seven key human resources issues, as well as issues arising from Council work, and is the result of extensive national stakeholder consultation. Projects receive guidance from volunteer steering and advisory committees comprised of industry, government, education and training institutions, employee groups, and unions.

PSAC's Relationship with the Council

PSAC is one of the founding associations and as such, has a representative on the Board of Directors. PSAC members participate in and provide feedback for many Council projects that benefit the industry. To become involved in any of the Council's current projects (listed below), contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and state your area of interest.

Current Projects

Short-Term Labour Market Information and HR Trends within the Upstream Petroleum Industry

The Petroleum HR Council has developed an online survey to monitor short term labour market issues and HR trends within the upstream petroleum industry. The Short Term HR Trends survey is being piloted and administered every quarter beginning Q4 2009 up to Q2 2010 at which time its ongoing value and delivery will be evaluated. 

For the Q4 2009 survey, 24 small to large industry companies participated representing more than 26,000 workers. Here’s what they said:

• In spite of numerous media reports on layoffs within the industry, the majority of survey respondents are still hiring, particularly to replace workers they lose through attrition.
• While employers are benefiting from increased numbers and the quality of the labour supply, they are still experiencing shortages in specific skill areas and locations.
• Cost cutting as well as managing employee engagement and productivity are key priorities and challenges.
• Workforce planning is a challenge for the well services as well as oilfield and construction and maintenance sectors given the market volatility as well as difficulty in predicting demand for services.

To receive a copy of the Short Term HR Trends survey report, please contact Claudine Vidallo, Project Manager, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .   If you interested in participating in the Q1 2010 survey, which will be administered in mid-February, please contact Priya Singh, Project Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Note that survey respondents will receive the report in advance of public release.

Careers in Oil & Gas Website

The Petroleum HR Council, with support from its partners (PSAC, CAPP, CAODC, SEPAC, CEPA, CAGC and Enform), developed this website to attract a variety of skilled workers to the oil and gas industry, so the industry has the skilled employees it needs, when it needs them.  More

Increasing the Talent 

One of the greatest challenges for the industry in meeting the demand for skilled labour is that, for the most part, the petroleum industry's growth areas are in hard-to-recruit locations. Recruiting people to hard-to-recruit locations for work is just half the battle; companies and communities have to work even harder to get their good people to stay.  More

Labour Market Transition 

The project researched the opportunities, barriers and feasibility of easing labour demands within the upstream petroleum industry by engaging workers from sectors with an expected surplus labour supply.  Phase 2 of the project aims to facilitate the transition of downsized workers into jobs in the upstream petroleum industry.  More

Occupation Profiles and Career Management Tools

Occupation Profiles, created by the Petroleum HR Council of Canada, details everything you need to know about work, education and career paths for a specific occupation in oil & gas.  More

Petroleum Competency Program

The Petroleum Competency Program (PCP) certifies workers in certain occupations within the petroleum industry. With industry demand for skilled workers at an all-time high and growing regulatory and public expectations about the performance and safety of the petroleum industry, the PCP is more relevant to the needs of industry than ever before.  More

Find out more about the Council and its projects on their website at http://www.petrohrsc.ca/council-projects/current-projects.aspx.