Land Agent

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Purchasing Agents and Officers (1225) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Purchasing Agents and Officers (B315) 
• 2011 NOC: Purchasing agents and officers (1225) 

Licensed land agents negotiate and acquire interest in land. They also may:

• acquire freehold surface mineral leases and easement agreements from private individuals who own the mineral right for the land
• assess and settle damages
• negotiate road use agreements
• act as a link between corporations, government agencies, the agriculture industry and land owners
• prepare reports and legal documentation for interests in land
• testify before regulatory boards
• act as a public affairs liaison in communities for their employers (for example, liaise with Indigenous peoples).

Land agents generally work in a field environment and may spend a considerable amount of time travelling in rural areas. Senior land agents may spend most of their time in office environments co-ordinating the activities of junior land agents and responding to questions.

Working hours may vary depending on the availability of stakeholders (for example, early morning and late night meetings). Some land agents may be required to be on-call 7 days a week, depending on the needs of the project.

Land agents need the following characteristics:

• integrity and high ethical standards
• excellent oral and written communication skills
• excellent interpersonal, negotiation and public relations skills
• good organizational skills
• patience and attention to detail
• the ability to work with little supervision
• understanding of contracts and leasing agreements for interests in land or commitments to landowners and occupants
• knowledgeable on variety of subjects (for example. lease site construction techniques, farming and ranching practices and remediation and reclaiming processes).

They should enjoy co-ordinating office and field services, and dealing with legal matters and people from all walks of life.

Land agents work for oil and gas companies, land service companies, engineering firms, pipeline companies, electric and gas utilities, railways, communications companies and government agencies. They may work in a variety of positions:

• surface land agent
• petroleum landman
• land representative
• municipal land agent
• land use technician
• lease negotiator
• public consultation co-ordinator
• right-of-way planner
• liaison co-ordinator
• land management technician
• contract land agent.

Some land agents are self-employed consultants. Work in this occupation may be seasonal.

Advancement opportunities vary depending on the agent's educational qualifications and experience.

Land agents are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 1225: Purchasing Agents and Officers. In Alberta, 78% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction (PDF)
• Manufacturing (PDF) 
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (PDF)
• Wholesale Trade (PDF)
• Public Administration (PDF)
• Construction (PDF)

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Over 11,400 Albertans are employed in the Purchasing agents and officers occupational group. This group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.2% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 137 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As land agents form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for land agents.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Association of Surface Land Agents (AASLA) website: aasla.com

Canadian Association of Petroleum Land Administration website: caplacanada.org

Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen (CAPL) website: landman.ca

Careers in Oil + Gas website: www.careersinoilandgas.com

Land Agent Licensing website: work.alberta.ca/labour/land-agents-licensing.html

International Right of Way Association (IRWA) website: www.irwaonline.org

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.