National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.1
9 - Occupations in manufacturing and utilities
This category contains supervisory, production and labouring occupations in manufacturing, processing and utilities.
Occupations in this category are characterized by either technical training or internal progression, and on-the-job training. Process control occupations in this category are increasingly technical and post-secondary training is usually required. For many occupations in this category, workers typically start out as labourers and progress to machine operation occupations through experience. Progression to supervisory positions requires experience in the occupations supervised. Mobility in some of these occupations may be limited by seniority provisions of collective agreements, or may require additional training.
96 - Labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities
This major group comprises labourers in manufacturing and utilities occupations which may require some secondary school education or completion of secondary school. It includes labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities.
961 - Labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities
This minor group includes labourers in mineral and metal processing; labourers in metal fabrication; labourers in chemical products processing and utilities; labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing; labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing; labourers in textile processing; labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing; labourers in fish and seafood processing; and other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities. They are employed by mineral ore and metal processing plants, cement processing plants, clay, glass and stone processing plants and foundries; structural steel, boiler and platework fabrication plants, heavy machinery manufacturing plants, sheet metal fabrication shops, shipbuilding and other metal products manufacturing companies; petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical, chemical and pharmaceutical companies; electrical, water and waste treatment utilities and services; pulp and paper, and paper converting companies, sawmills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing companies; rubber and plastic products manufacturing companies; textile manufacturing companies; fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, meat plants, breweries and other food, beverage and associated products processing and packaging plants; fish and seafood processing and packaging plants; companies that manufacture other products; and printing and packaging companies.
9611 - Labourers in mineral and metal processing
Labourers in this unit group perform material handling, clean-up, packaging and other elemental activities related to mineral ore and metal processing. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries, cement processing plants, clay, glass and stone processing plants and foundries.
Illustrative example(s)
- asbestos worker - mineral processing
- brick and tile kiln cleaner
- core shop labourer - foundry
- extrusion helper - primary metal processing
- furnace loader - primary metal and mineral products processing
- glass packer
- helper, fibreglass oven charger
- lime kiln operator helper - mineral products processing
- metal pourer helper
- rolling mill worker - primary metal processing
- salt screening labourer
- tailings disposal labourer - primary metal processing
Exclusion(s)
- Labourers in metal fabrication (See 9612 Labourers in metal fabrication)
- Machine operators and related workers in mineral and metal products processing and manufacturing (See 941 Machine operators and related workers in mineral and metal products processing and manufacturing)
- Supervisors, mineral and metal processing (See 9211 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing)
Main duties
Labourers in mineral and metal processing perform some or all of the following duties:
- Transport raw materials, finished products, scrap and recyclable materials throughout plant manually or using forklift or other powered equipment
- Feed conveyors, crushers and other equipment; open valves and start pumps; skim dross from furnaces; sort, stack, bundle and stamp materials; and perform other activities to assist process and machine operators in mineral ore and metal processing
- Clean work areas and equipment
- May assist with minor repairs and maintenance.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school may be required for some positions in this group.
Additional information
- Progression to machine and process operator positions is possible with experience.
9612 - Labourers in metal fabrication
Labourers in this unit group remove excess metal and unwanted materials from metal parts, castings and other metal products and perform other labouring activities. They are employed in structural steel, boiler and platework fabrication plants, heavy machinery manufacturing plants, sheet metal fabrication shops, shipbuilding and other metal products manufacturing companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- blacksmith helper
- buffing machine tender - metal products manufacturing
- grinder-deburrer
- labourer - metal fabrication
- metal cleaner - metal products manufacturing
- metalworking machine helper
- plater helper - metal fabrication
- shipfitter helper
- shotblaster - metal fabrication
- wheelabrator operator - metal products manufacturing
Exclusion(s)
- Labourers in mineral and metal processing (See 9611 Labourers in mineral and metal processing)
Main duties
Labourers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:
- Read and interpret work orders
- Operate metal cleaning equipment such as wheelabrators, deburrers and shotblasters to remove excess welds, rust, scale and other material from surfaces of metal parts, castings and other metal products
- Polish metal products to mirror finish
- Immerse metal products in cleaning solutions
- Assist structural steel and platework fitters, sheet metal workers, metalworking machine operators or other metal workers
- Transport raw materials and finished metal products manually or using hoists or other devices
- Sort metal sheets and parts, scrap metal and other materials
- Clean work areas and equipment
- Load and unload vehicles using hand truck or dolly
- May cut, grind or chip excess metal from metal products using hand tools.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education may be required.
Additional information
- There is some mobility among occupations in this unit group.
- Progression to metalworking machine operator positions is possible with experience.
9613 - Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities
Labourers in this unit group carry out a variety of material handling, cleaning and routine general labouring activities. They are employed by petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, and by electrical, water and waste treatment utilities and services.
Illustrative example(s)
- coating machine feeder - chemical processing
- filter cleaner - chemical processing
- helper - chemical processing
- labourer - gas utility
- loader - chemical processing
- retort unloader
- still cleaner - chemical processing
- water intake tender
- waterworks labourer
Exclusion(s)
- Chemical plant machine operators (See 9421 Chemical plant machine operators)
- Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators (See 9232 Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing)
- Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (See 9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities)
- Water and waste treatment plant operators (See 9243 Water and waste treatment plant operators)
- Waterworks and gas maintenance workers (See 7442 Waterworks and gas maintenance workers)
Main duties
Labourers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:
- Feed and unload production machinery and equipment
- Clean chemical processing machines and equipment and production areas
- Move, sort and pile materials and products manually and using powered equipment
- Assist other workers to operate, repair and maintain process equipment, gas distribution, water filtration and waste plant equipment
- Perform general duties such as basic construction, painting and other manual tasks.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
Additional information
- Considerable mobility is possible among jobs in this unit group.
- Progression to operator positions in the chemical or utility industry is possible with experience and appropriate qualifications.
9614 - Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing
Labourers in this unit group carry out a variety of general labouring and routine wood processing activities and assist pulp mill and papermaking machine operators. They are employed by pulp and paper, and paper converting companies, sawmills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- beater operator helper - pulp and paper
- chip bin attendant - wood processing
- conveyor cleaner - pulp and paper
- green wood chainman/woman - wood processing
- grinder feeder - pulp and paper
- labourer - pulp and paper
- labourer - wood processing
- lumber straightener - wood processing
- plywood dryer feeder
- sheeter helper - pulp and paper
- utility man/woman - pulp and paper
Exclusion(s)
- Machine operators and related workers in pulp and paper production and wood processing and manufacturing (See 943 Machine operators and related workers in pulp and paper production and wood processing and manufacturing)
- Supervisors, forest products processing (See 9215 Supervisors, forest products processing)
Main duties
Labourers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:
- Feed logs onto conveyor and into hopper of grinding machine and align logs manually, using crowbar, picaroon or other tools and equipment
- Load wood chips, pulpwood, sulphur and other processing materials onto conveyors or processing tanks, remove recyclable paper and pulp from pulp and papermaking machines and transport recyclable paper and pulp to plant processing machines and equipment using forklift or other powered equipment
- Sort, pile and transport lumber, veneer sheets, panelboards and similar wood products during various stages of wood processing, manually or with powered equipment
- Remove scrap lumber and wood chips for reprocessing using forklift or other powered equipment
- Feed conveyors, saws, drying machines and other equipment to process lumber, shingles, veneer, plywood and similar wood products
- Clean wood processing machines and equipment and work areas using shovels, hoses and other tools
- Assist other wood processing workers to operate, maintain and repair various machines and equipment and carry out other wood processing activities.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required by the pulp and paper industry and by other large employers.
Additional information
- There is considerable mobility among jobs within individual establishments.
- Progression to machine or plant operating positions is possible with experience.
9615 - Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing
Labourers in this unit group assist machine operators, transport materials and perform similar tasks. They are employed by rubber and plastic products manufacturing companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- belt builder helper
- labourer - plastic products manufacturing
- labourer - rubber products manufacturing
- machine offbearer - rubber products manufacturing
- mould cleaner - rubber products manufacturing
- moulded products stripper - rubber and plastic products manufacturing
- roll changer - rubber manufacturing
- spreader operator helper - plastic products manufacturing
Exclusion(s)
- Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors (See 9535 Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors)
- Plastics processing machine operators (See 9422 Plastics processing machine operators)
- Rubber processing machine operators and related workers (See 9423 Rubber processing machine operators and related workers)
- Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing (See 9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing)
Main duties
Labourers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:
- Assist machine operators or assemblers in performing their duties
- Assist in setting up and dismantling machinery and equipment
- Clean and lubricate machinery and equipment
- Transport materials and tools to and from work areas using hand trucks or other conveyance
- Prepare raw materials for mixing process
- Monitor machines to watch for jammed materials or defective products.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is usually required.
Additional information
- Progression to machine operator or assembler positions in rubber and plastic products manufacturing is possible with experience.
9616 - Labourers in textile processing
Labourers in textile processing perform a variety of manual duties to assist in processing fibres into yarn or thread, or to assist in weaving, knitting, bleaching, dyeing or finishing textile fabrics or other textile products. They are employed by textile manufacturing companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- doffer
- dyeing and finishing machine loader
- helper - textiles
- textile machine cleaner
- waste machine feeder
- yarn handler
Exclusion(s)
- Machine operators and related workers in textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing (See 944 Machine operators and related workers in textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing)
- Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly (See 9227 Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly)
- Supervisors, textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing (See 9217 Supervisors, textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing)
Main duties
Labourers in textile processing perform some or all of the following duties:
- Load and off-load machines
- Clean textile machines and work areas
- Push carts, trucks, or cans of fibres from one work area to another
- Assist machine operators and other textile workers as required.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education may be required.
Additional information
- Progression to machine operator positions is possible with experience.
9617 - Labourers in food and beverage processing
Labourers in this unit group perform material handling, clean-up, packaging and other elemental activities related to food and beverage processing. They are employed in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, meat plants, breweries and other food and beverage processing and packaging plants.
Illustrative example(s)
- bottle-washing machine tender - food and beverage processing
- brewery labourer
- candy packer
- dairy helper - food and beverage processing
- food processing labourer
- frozen food packer
- meat packager
- nut sorter - food and beverage processing
- production helper - food and beverage processing
- tobacco processing labourer
Exclusion(s)
- Grain sampler - food and beverage processing (See 9465 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing)
- Labourers in fish and seafood processing (See 9618 Labourers in fish and seafood processing)
- Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing (See 9461 Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing)
- Supervisors, food and beverage processing (See 9213 Supervisors, food and beverage processing)
Main duties
Labourers in food and beverage processing perform some or all of the following duties:
- Transport raw materials, finished products and packaging materials throughout plant and warehouse manually, or with powered equipment
- Measure and dump ingredients into hoppers of mixing and grinding machines or mobile tank trucks
- Feed and unload food and beverage processing machines
- Feed flattened boxes into forming machines to construct containers
- Remove filled containers from conveyors and manually pack goods into bags, boxes or other containers
- Clean work areas and equipment
- Check products and packaging for basic quality defects
- Assist process control and machine operators in performing their duties.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education may be required.
Additional information
- There is some mobility among occupations in this unit group.
- Labourers in food and beverage processing may progress to machine or process operating positions with experience.
9618 - Labourers in fish and seafood processing
Labourers in this unit group perform clean-up, packaging, material handling and other elemental activities related to fish and seafood processing. They are employed in fish and seafood processing and packaging plants.
Illustrative example(s)
- cannery labourer
- fish briner - fish processing
- fish plant labourer
- fish salter - fish processing
- fish weigher
- shellfish labourer
- shellfish packer - fish processing
Exclusion(s)
- Fish and seafood plant workers (See 9463 Fish and seafood plant workers)
- Foremen/women of workers in fish and seafood processing (See 9213 Supervisors, food and beverage processing)
Main duties
Labourers in fish and seafood processing perform some or all of the following duties:
- Unload fish and shellfish from fishing vessels and transport them by hand or forklift truck to work area in fish processing plant
- Immerse fresh fish fillets in brine solution to condition them for wrapping or freezing
- Weigh fish or shellfish, record weight and pack fish in ice
- Sort fish according to species, weight and destination
- Clean work areas and equipment
- Transport supplies and packaging materials throughout plant and storage area manually or with powered equipment
- Measure and dump ingredients into hoppers of mixing and grinding machines.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education may be required.
Additional information
- Progression to other occupations in the fish processing industry is possible with experience.
9619 - Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities
This unit group includes labourers, not elsewhere classified, who perform material handling, clean-up, packaging and other elemental activities in processing, manufacturing and utilities. They are employed by companies that manufacture products such as clothing, footwear, furniture and electrical and electronic products and by printing and packaging companies.
Illustrative example(s)
- bindery helper
- box packer
- carton marker
- chair sander
- clothing plant labourer
- electrical products labourer
- film cutter - film processing
- furniture packer
- garment folder
- lens blocker
- machine packager
- seed packager
- shoe manufacturing labourer
- sorter, recyclable materials
- upholsterer helper
Exclusion(s)
- Supervisors of labourers in this unit group (See 9227 Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly)
- Supervisors, electrical products manufacturing (See 9223 Supervisors, electrical products manufacturing)
- Supervisors, furniture and fixtures manufacturing (See 9224 Supervisors, furniture and fixtures manufacturing)
- Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly (See 9227 Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly)
Main duties
Labourers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:
- Transport raw materials, finished products and equipment throughout plant manually or using powered equipment
- Check and weigh materials and products
- Sort, pack, crate and package materials and products
- Assist machine operators, assemblers and other workers
- Clean work areas and equipment
- Perform other labouring and elemental activities.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education may be required.
Additional information
- There is some mobility among occupations in this unit group.
- Progression to machine operating positions is possible with experience.
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