Canadian oil and natural gas employment remained lean in 2022 as the industry directed price gains into shareholder benefits, debt repayments and efficiency programs, according to a recent labor market report.

The 2022 workforce remained “virtually unchanged” at 184,100 after a marginal loss of 500 positions or 0.2% from 184,600 in 2021, said the Petroleum Labor Market Information (PetroLMI) division of Energy Safety Canada.

The exploration, production, field services and pipeline total maintained a partial recovery from the sharp decline in 2020 when the pandemic eroded the global economy and decimated energy markets.

Canadian oil and gas employment last year increased by 20,900 or 13% from 2020, but “it remained significantly below the peak of 225,900 in 2014,”...