ConocoPhillips Confirms Canadian Layoffs for November
ConocoPhillips has informed staff that significant job losses are coming to its Canadian operations in early November. The U.S.-based energy producer is moving ahead with a major global workforce reduction, with Canada being one of the first regions affected. A company memo, shared with employees and later reviewed by Reuters, confirms that cuts will begin in the first week of November, although exact numbers have not been made public.
When Will Employees Be Notified?
According to the memo, notification dates are already set. Calgary staff will receive virtual layoff notices on November 5, while workers at the Surmont oilsands site in Alberta and the Montney operations in B.C. will be informed in person on November 6. A spokesperson for the company stated that ConocoPhillips will not be disclosing location-specific layoff figures for employees or contractors.
While the number of Canadian job losses remains undisclosed, the broader plan is part of a global restructuring that could eliminate up to one-quarter of ConocoPhillips’ worldwide workforce by next year. The company had 950 employees in Canada at the end of 2024, with production levels averaging 164,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day that same year.
Why Are These Layoffs Happening?
Falling oil prices are at the centre of this decision. Weaker market conditions have put pressure on U.S. oil producers, forcing them to scale back budgets, drilling activity, and staff levels. ConocoPhillips joins a growing list of major energy companies responding to the downturn. Earlier this year, Chevron announced plans to cut up to 20% of its global workforce, while companies such as SLB and BP have also taken similar steps.
Canada’s major homegrown oilsands companies have, until recently, been insulated from the worst effects of the downturn due to cost efficiencies and the advantage of a weaker Canadian dollar. However, U.S.-owned energy firms operating in Canada are now feeling the ripple effects from their American headquarters. Consolidation, efficiency pushes, and restructuring decisions south of the border are increasingly being mirrored here.
In a related development, Imperial Oil, majority owned by ExxonMobil announced in September that it will reduce its workforce by approximately 20% by 2027, which will dramatically scale back its Calgary footprint.
What Does This Mean for Energy Workers in Canada?
The latest cuts underscore the uncertainty facing workers in Canada’s oil and gas sector, particularly within U.S.-owned operations. While domestic producers remain comparatively stable, multinational energy companies are reorganizing aggressively, with Canadian roles no longer shielded from global cost-cutting strategies.
Were You Impacted by the ConocoPhillips Layoffs in Canada? Here’s How Whitten & Lublin Can Help
If your position has been cut as part of ConocoPhillips’ upcoming workforce reduction, you may have the right to more compensation than what is initially offered in your severance package.
In Ontario and across Canada, non-unionized employees in corporate, administrative, energy, and technical roles are often entitled to significantly higher severance than the first offer. Your entitlements are based on multiple factors, including your age, tenure, role, compensation structure, and the availability of similar work.
At Whitten & Lublin Employment Lawyers, we regularly assist professionals in the energy and resource sector in securing fair severance. If you’ve been affected by ConocoPhillips’ layoffs, call us at (416) 640-2667 or contact us online for a consultation.