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A new forecast for the oil and gas industry suggests drilling will pick up at a faster pace than was previously expected as producers respond to improved energy prices with more aggressive drilling programs.

The Petroleum Services Association of Canada said Monday nearly 5,200 wells are expected to be drilled across the country this year, an increase of 975 wells over the group’s November outlook.

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Most of the new activity is expected to occur in Alberta, where 2,700 wells will be drilled, up by more than 40 per cent over the November forecast of 1,900 wells, the industry group reported.

Oilfield service companies have “put all their people on staff back to work,” Mark Salkeld, chief executive of the group, told reporters. “They’ve recalled as many as they could to put back to work, and now it’s hiring brand new.”

After a two-year oil price rout, drillers, frackers and other service operators have reported having challenges recruiting because many laid-off workers left the industry or the province to find more reliable incomes.