Tens of thousands of oil and gas workers laid off during the downturn have been waiting for the patch to get back on its feet, but many of the jobs could be gone for good.

The annual survey found that 28 per cent of energy sector employers expect to hire fewer people in 2017 than in 2016, while 15 per cent expect some growth and about half predict stability.

A pair of forecasts released Thursday see little in the way of good news for Canada's ailing oil and gas sector.