Civil engineers
Occupation · NOC 2021 21300 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 21300
- TEER
- 1
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 395
- Median wage, Canada
- C$48.56 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,561
OC<CANCIVIL<ENGINEERS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 213000<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0
About this occupation
Civil engineers plan, design, develop and manage projects for the construction or repair of buildings, earth structures, powerhouses, roads, airports, railways, rapid transit facilities, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams, ports and coastal installations and systems related to highway and transportation services, water distribution and sanitation. Civil engineers may also specialize in foundation analysis, building and structural inspection, surveying, geomatics and municipal planning. They are employed by engineering consulting companies, in all levels of government, by construction firms and in many other industries, or they may be self-employed.
Example job titles
- bridge engineer
- civil engineer
- construction engineer
- construction project engineer
- environmental engineer
- geodetic engineer
- geomatics engineer
- highway engineer
- hydraulics engineer
- municipal engineer
- public works engineer
- sanitation engineer
- structural engineer
- surveying engineer
- traffic engineer
- transportation engineer
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Confer with clients and other members of the engineering team and conduct research to determine project requirements
- Plan and design major civil projects such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, water and waste management systems and structural steel fabrications
- Develop construction specifications and procedures
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate building and construction materials
- Interpret, review and approve survey and civil design work
- Conduct field services for civil works
- Ensure construction plans meet guidelines and specifications of building codes and other regulations
- Establish and monitor construction work schedules
- Conduct feasibility studies, economic analyses, municipal and regional traffic studies, environmental impact studies or other investigations
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in civil engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
- A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 32 |
| 2023 | 56 |
| 2024 | 82 |
| 2025 | 91 |
| 2026 | 25 |
- Pomerleau inc.53
- Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc.18
- Stantec Consulting Ltd.16
- Dr. G. Sauer & Partners Corporation8
- Kiewit-Kvaerner Contractors7
- ALSTOM Transport Canada Inc7
- COWI North America Ltd.6
- Nvira Environnement Inc6
- British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority5
- Systra Canada Inc.4
- IBT Canada4
- Sacyr Canada4
- Canadian Turner Construction Company4
- AtkinsRéalis Canada Inc.4
- Colas Québec4
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 40 | 340 |
| 2025 | 10 | 520 |
| 2024 | 35 | 530 |
| 2023 | 10 | 455 |
| 2022 | 0 | 435 |
| 2021 | 0 | 315 |
| 2020 | 0 | 245 |
| 2019 | 0 | 465 |
| 2018 | 0 | 440 |
| 2017 | 0 | 385 |
| 2016 | 5 | 540 |
| 2015 | 0 | 550 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 550 |
| 2016 | 545 |
| 2017 | 385 |
| 2018 | 440 |
| 2019 | 465 |
| 2020 | 245 |
| 2021 | 315 |
| 2022 | 435 |
| 2023 | 465 |
| 2024 | 565 |
| 2025 | 530 |
| 2026 | 380 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 1,195 |
| 2016 | 945 |
| 2017 | 605 |
| 2018 | 680 |
| 2019 | 735 |
| 2020 | 380 |
| 2021 | 550 |
| 2022 | 785 |
| 2023 | 810 |
| 2024 | 935 |
| 2025 | 615 |
| 2026 | 435 |
- Federal Skilled Worker3,640
- Canadian Experience Class2,625
- Provincial Nominee Program1,280
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$32.00 | C$48.56 | C$72.12 |
| Alberta | C$34.00 | C$51.69 | C$76.92 |
| British Columbia | C$32.48 | C$47.12 | C$72.12 |
| Manitoba | C$24.76 | C$49.50 | C$73.50 |
| New Brunswick | C$30.00 | C$44.36 | C$73.56 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$35.11 | C$51.15 | C$74.82 |
| Nova Scotia | C$30.14 | C$47.34 | C$77.14 |
| Ontario | C$30.50 | C$48.08 | C$72.12 |
| Quebec | C$33.65 | C$49.74 | C$69.23 |
| Saskatchewan | C$28.85 | C$42.00 | C$62.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,561
- Vacancies advertised
- 1,612
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$40.00
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