Help Shape the Future of Underground Facility Locating Careers

Jamie Andersen, President - CAPULC 

Canadian Association of Pipeline and Utility Locating Contractors (CAPULC), with support from Jiva Consulting is leading an Industry Workforce Partnership Project for the Underground Facility Locating – Career Awareness and Recruiting Campaign. This initiative addresses the urgent need to attract and retain skilled Underground Facility Locators in Alberta’s construction sector – a profession that is essential to public safety and infrastructure development but remains largely unrecognized as a formal career path.

The initiative includes four key components:

1. Competency Validation – Consultation with existing Underground Facility Locators to confirm and obtain feedback on the competencies, skills, and knowledge required for the role and/or Career Path.
2. Position Profile – Creating a standardized Underground Facility Locator description detailing requirements to assist employers in support employers in attracting new candidates, creating job posts, creating internal job descriptions, and recruitment.
3. Career Roadmap – Developing a visual guide outlining career progression or pathway opportunities within the Underground Facility Locating profession.
4. Awareness Campaign – Hosting presentation sessions, attending career fairs and distributing online resources and materials to attract new talent and support employers in career awareness and recruiting.

To support the first two components of this initiative, CAPULC is conducting a survey to collect workforce demographics and assist in validating competencies. The insights gathered will directly inform the development of career resources and help shape future recruitment strategies.

Who Should Participate?

This survey is intended for:

• Individuals currently working as Underground Facility Locators
• Individuals who have previously worked in this role
• Individuals involved in hiring, managing, training, or supplying equipment for Underground Facility Locators 

If you belong to one or more of these audiences, we invite you to complete the survey, accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DYF8QYP

Survey Dates: July 21 – August 4, 2025
Time to complete: ~15 minutes
Incentive: First 100 respondents receive a $10 Tim Hortons gift card

Please share this survey with anyone who fits the target audience. Your support helps build a stronger, more recognized career path for Underground Facility Locators.

“The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services. Funding provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada–Alberta Job Fund.”