ConocoPhillips to Reduce Canadian Workforce as Restructuring Continues

ConocoPhillips has told its staff that it will reduce its workforce in Canada, with the changes scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. A company spokesperson confirmed the move on Monday, October 26. The reduction covers both employees and contractors, but the Houston, Texas-based oil and gas producer has not said how many positions will be eliminated.

The move is part of a restructuring that the company first set out in 2025. At that time, the company said it would cut between 20 and 25 percent of its global workforce following its acquisition of Marathon Oil. The aim, according to the company, was to streamline operations and reduce costs in a period when its expenses had risen faster than those of its peers.

Canada has been affected by earlier rounds as well. In late 2025, Calgary staff and workers at the Surmont oilsands operation in northern Alberta and the Montney shale play in British Columbia were told of layoffs through a company memo. The company's Canadian operations, headquartered in Calgary, employed about 950 people at the end of 2024, according to the company's own website.

Workforce figures and company statement

ConocoPhillips reported about 9,900 employees worldwide in its 2025 annual report. That is lower than the figure of roughly 13,000 that was cited when the global cuts were first discussed, a difference that reflects the different counts used in those reports. Because the company has not released the size of the Canadian reduction, the scale of the cut cannot be measured from public figures.

In its statement, the spokesperson said the firm regularly reviews its organization so that it matches long-term strategy, operates safely and efficiently, and stays well placed for future opportunities. The company did not link the latest reduction to a specific project, asset sale or market event in the details it provided.

What it means for workers

For workers in oil and gas jobs in Canada, the announcement shows that cost reviews and staffing changes remain active at large producers. Because contractors are included, the effect may reach beyond payroll employees to service firms and temporary crews. The company's Canadian operations span the Alberta oil sands and northeastern British Columbia, so field and office staff in those areas may be most closely watching the next steps.

Employees and job seekers in the sector may find it useful to track how producers reorganize operations, since restructuring plans often shift which roles are kept, outsourced or moved. Workers facing changes may also review the information their employer provides about severance, notice periods and redeployment options.

What to watch next

Several points will show how large the Canadian reduction is and how it fits the wider plan. The first is whether the company discloses the number of positions affected. The second is whether further cuts are announced in Canada or other regions. The third is whether the reorganization is completed in 2026, as the company had previously expected. Updates from the company or from its regulatory filings are likely to provide the clearest information.