Creating Employment Opportunities

Our business activities and community investments have an impact on the growth and prosperity of the communities where we work. At Canadian Natural, we engage the local community across all of our operations by developing and promoting local capacity in all areas of our business.

We also support training and employment initiatives that enable the continued development of local workforces near our operations, so that we can train and employ people in the communities where we operate. We work with the communities, and with local and regional contractors, to explore potential employment opportunities. Canadian Natural continues to work closely with Indigenous communities and local colleges to develop skilled trades programs that are accessible and affordable for community members.

Examples of employment initiatives supported by our Company include:

- Careers: the Next Generation

Through our partnership with ‘Careers: the Next Generation’, we offered internships to nine high school students who gained experience at our Grand Prairie and Fairview, Alberta field operations.

- Northeast Alberta Apprenticeship Initiative (NEAAI)

Canadian Natural continues to support the Northeast Alberta Apprenticeship Initiative (NEAAI) by participating in Steering Committee Meetings, and also through the “Walk with Us” initiative for job search assistance to Indigenous people, as well as the “Tiny Homes” project for employment opportunities.

The NEAAI is a partnership between First Nations, industry, post-secondary institutions and government that provides learning and support systems to increase the number of skilled Indigenous tradespeople in Alberta.

Our Employees

Our business depends on a diverse workforce of individuals who take pride in ‘working together’ and ‘doing it right’. In 2016, we employed more than 7,200 full-time employees and 28 temporary employees, and on June 1, 2017 we welcomed approximately 2,800 employees through the acquisition of working interests in the Athabasca Oil Sands Project and other oil sands assets.

In 2016, the employment created by our North American operations and through our capital investment program is equivalent to 53,600 person-years, including direct, indirect (suppliers) and induced (economy at large) employment. To learn more about the employment created by our Company, as well as additional benefits of our operations, visit our 2016 Stewardship Report to Stakeholders and our Economic Contributions section.

Hiring locally

At Canadian Natural, hiring and developing local people is one of our priorities. We do this through internal training and mentorship, which are essential to our culture. We believe that creating a workforce of empowered employees is a key to creating value and therefore, developing people also means promoting people from within our staff whenever possible.

At our Côte d’Ivoire (CDI) operations in Offshore Africa, for example, we work with the local community and the education system to develop local people. Canadian Natural Resources International employs approximately 40 individuals in CDI, more than 90% of whom are Ivorian, including three members of the local management team. Read some of their stories, inspired by hard work, mentorship and continuous development.

To further support our recruiting goals, we participate in information sessions at universities, colleges, and career fairs.