Sector Statistics
The following statistics not only illustrate Canada's electricity sector as it is today, but also reflect the challenges and opportunities it will face in coming years. To learn more about the issues inherent to these statistics, read Keeping the Future Bright: 2004 Canadian Electricity Human Resource Sector Study.
Sector profile
- 58.2% of companies in the sector distribute electricity.
- 36.2% of sector firms generate electricity.
- 5.6% of companies are involved in electricity transmission.
Demographics of the workforce
Age- 74% of the electricity sector's workforce is over the age of 40.
- 11% of the sector's employees are between the ages of 25 and 40.
- 25.4% of electricity sector employees are women.
- 46.9% of Canada's national workforce are women.
Recruitment and retention
- 40% of employees are newly recruited.
- 4% is currently the annual turnover average.
- 9,000 technicians must be hired in the next five years.
- 17,000 technicians must be hired by 2015.
Employee training
- Five years is the minimum time required for employees in the trades to become proficient at their jobs.
Retirement
- 40% of the Canadian electricity sector's labour force will retire over the next 10 years.
- 30% of electricity-producing firms do not have a plan to manage the impending retirement of baby boomers.
Generation and Consumption
Generation- 60% of electricity produced in Canada is generated by hydro.
- 24% of electricity is generated by coal.
- 12% of electricity is generated by nuclear power.
- Canada supplies 10% more electricity than 10 years ago.
- 4% of the world's electricity supply is produced in Canada, which exports between $1 billion and $2 billion dollars worth each year.
- 3.6% of the world's electricity consumption is used in Canada.
- 12% of North America's consumption is used in Canada.
- Canada's demand for electricity has grown by 1.8% annually over the past 10 years.
- Canada's demand for electricity has increased 16% over the last 10 years.
