zombola
01-08-2015, 01:33 PM
Many wonder how the ongoing slide of oil prices will impact them, including this Maritimer who was forced to leave the oilpatch jobless.
After five years of triple-digit gas prices, Maritime motorists have seen prices fall into the double-digits.
As the price of oil continues to slide, workers in many parts of the country are wondering how they will be affected, including Maritimers who work out west in the oil patch.
Duncan Campbell is feeling the pressure of lower oil prices.
“It's always a concern when you see the price of oil as it has and I've been working steady for the last nine, ten years,” says Campbell.
Campbell works in Alberta as a construction surveyor. He says it used to be easy to find a job in his profession.
“Even back in let’s say the summer, you could go on and there might be a dozen, a dozen different opportunities for my position and if you go on today, I don't think there's anything.”
Adrain White works with the Sydney Area Chamber of Commerce. He says the western provinces are the engine that drives the Canadian economy.
“It's concerning if it continues for a long time. As to what that might do to the economy, we certainly don't want to have people losing their homes, car, or not be able pay their bills,” says White.
The last time oil prices were below $50 a barrel was six years ago. The more the price continues to drop, the more uncertain the future becomes for those working in the oil patch.
“When is it going to happen? When am I going back? Am I going back? Do I have to get another career?” asks Campbell.
Sadie Holloway is an employment counsellor. She says lower prices will not only affect those working out west.
“If you don't have money, you don't buy as much and it would probably affect everyone in a trickle down kind of way,” says Holloway.
That trickle down affect could see more people spending time by the computer looking for employment.
“We would become more busy then we already are. People then would be looking for alternative jobs, or they may look in different parts of the country for work,” says Holloway.
For Campbell, he’s now back home in the Maritimes and his job prospects lowered along with the price of oil.
cbc.ca
After five years of triple-digit gas prices, Maritime motorists have seen prices fall into the double-digits.
As the price of oil continues to slide, workers in many parts of the country are wondering how they will be affected, including Maritimers who work out west in the oil patch.
Duncan Campbell is feeling the pressure of lower oil prices.
“It's always a concern when you see the price of oil as it has and I've been working steady for the last nine, ten years,” says Campbell.
Campbell works in Alberta as a construction surveyor. He says it used to be easy to find a job in his profession.
“Even back in let’s say the summer, you could go on and there might be a dozen, a dozen different opportunities for my position and if you go on today, I don't think there's anything.”
Adrain White works with the Sydney Area Chamber of Commerce. He says the western provinces are the engine that drives the Canadian economy.
“It's concerning if it continues for a long time. As to what that might do to the economy, we certainly don't want to have people losing their homes, car, or not be able pay their bills,” says White.
The last time oil prices were below $50 a barrel was six years ago. The more the price continues to drop, the more uncertain the future becomes for those working in the oil patch.
“When is it going to happen? When am I going back? Am I going back? Do I have to get another career?” asks Campbell.
Sadie Holloway is an employment counsellor. She says lower prices will not only affect those working out west.
“If you don't have money, you don't buy as much and it would probably affect everyone in a trickle down kind of way,” says Holloway.
That trickle down affect could see more people spending time by the computer looking for employment.
“We would become more busy then we already are. People then would be looking for alternative jobs, or they may look in different parts of the country for work,” says Holloway.
For Campbell, he’s now back home in the Maritimes and his job prospects lowered along with the price of oil.
cbc.ca