NOC 85111: Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers carry out a variety of general labouring duties and operate equipment to assist in the drilling and servicing of oil and gas wells. This unit group also includes labourers who assist in geophysical prospecting for oil and gas. They are employed by drilling and well servicing contractors and by petroleum producing companies.
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
NOC 85111 (Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers) is a TEER 5 occupation — not skilled work for FSW or CEC. It is not on IRCC's high-wage list. It isn't on any current category-based draw list.
TEER
TEER 5
Not skilled for FSW/CEC
High-wage
Not listed
No extra CRS points
Category draws
None
IRCC 2026 lists
| NOC 2021 code | 85111 |
|---|---|
| Title | Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers |
| Broad category | Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations |
| TEER | TEER 5 — usually short-term work demonstration and no formal education |
Example job titles
- floorman/woman - oil and gas drilling
- leasehand
- oil field labourer
- roughneck
- roustabout
- service rig helper
- shakerhand
- swamper - oil and gas
Main duties
- Manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem at the rig floor during drilling and during the removal and replacement of strings of pipe or drill stem and drill bit
- Maintain drilling equipment on the drill floor
- Handle, sort and move drill tools, pipe, cement and other materials
- Clean up rig areas
- Assist in setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs and service equipment
- May drive trucks to transport materials and well service equipment.
Your duties should match the lead statement and most of the main duties to use this NOC — check the full profile on the official NOC site.
Related occupations
- NOC 85100 — Livestock labourers
- NOC 85101 — Harvesting labourers
- NOC 85102 — Aquaculture and marine harvest labourers
- NOC 85103 — Nursery and greenhouse labourers
- NOC 85104 — Trappers and hunters
- NOC 85110 — Mine labourers
- NOC 85120 — Logging and forestry labourers
- NOC 85121 — Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers
← NOC 85110 Mine labourers · NOC 85120 Logging and forestry labourers →
Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list
TEER 5 also matters for work permits: see the spousal open work permit (TEER rules for spouses of workers), LMIA explained and the Atlantic Immigration Program (job offers in TEER 0–4).
Sources: Statistics Canada NOC 2021 V1.0; IRCC high-wage occupations; IRCC category-based selection; IRCC who can apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is NOC 85111 eligible for Express Entry?+
NOC 85111 is a TEER 5 occupation. IRCC only counts TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work as skilled experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, so this occupation alone generally won't meet those requirements. Provincial programs may differ.
Is NOC 85111 a high-wage occupation?+
No. NOC 85111 isn't on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage occupations list, so it doesn't earn the extra high-wage or job offer CRS points. Canadian work-length points can still apply for TEER 0–3 work.
Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 85111?+
None of IRCC's current category-based selection lists include NOC 85111. Candidates can still be invited in general, program-specific (such as CEC) or PNP rounds.