Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 1991

J - Occupations Unique to Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities

Occupations in this broad occupational category are primarily concerned with supervisory and production work in manufacturing, processing and utilities.

J1 - Machine Operators in Manufacturing

Occupations in this major group are primarily concerned with operating machines to process metals, petroleum, chemicals, rubber and plastics, food and beverages, forest products and textiles.

J16 - Machine Operators and Related Workers in Fabric, Fur and Leather Products Manufacturing

Occupations in this minor group are primarily concerned with operating sewing machines and cutting pieces of material for furnishings and apparel; processing hides and pelts; and inspecting and grading fabric, fur and leather products.

J161 - Sewing Machine Operators

Occupations in this unit group are primarily concerned with operating sewing machines to sew fabric, leather, fur or synthetic materials to produce or repair garments, and other articles.

• Example Titles

  • Bag sewer, canvas
  • Basting-machine operator, sewing
  • Binder, clothing
  • Blanket seamstress
  • Blanket sewer
  • Button sewer, machine
  • Button stayer, clothing
  • Buttonhole maker, machine
  • Buttonhole stayer, clothing
  • Buttonhole-machine operator
  • Canvas sewer
  • Cap sewer
  • Carpet sewer
  • Closer, sewing
  • Curtain sewer
  • Cushion sewer
  • Drapery seamstress
  • Drapery sewer
  • Fur sewer, except furrier
  • Fur sewing machine operator
  • Glove sewer
  • Hem sewer
  • Leather sewer
  • Linen-room seamstress, machine
  • Linen-room sewer, machine
  • Lining sewer
  • Pocket sewer
  • Repair sewer, manufacturing
  • Sample maker, sewing
  • Sample sewer, sewing
  • Scallop binder, canvas
  • Serger, sewing
  • Serging machine operator
  • Sewer, button, machine
  • Sewer, canvas
  • Sewer, hem
  • Sewer, pocket
  • Sewer, upholstery, manufacturing
  • Sewer, zipper
  • Sewing machine operator
  • Sewing machine operator, leather gloves
  • Shoe sewer
  • Ticket sewer
  • Umbrella sewer
  • Underwear sewer
  • Vest sewer
  • Yoke sewer
  • Zipper sewer

• Exclusion

  • Foremen/women, sewing machine operators (See J025 Supervisors, Fabric, Fur and Leather Products Manufacturing)
  • Tailors, dressmakers and furriers (See H512 Tailors, Dressmakers, Furriers and Milliners)

J162 - Fabric, Fur and Leather Cutters

Occupations in this unit group are primarily concerned with cutting fabric, fur or leather to make pieces for garments, drapes, shoes and other articles of fabric, fur or leather.

• Example Titles

  • Bag cutter, leather
  • Belt cutter, leather
  • Brim cutter, hat
  • Canvas awning cutter
  • Canvas cutter
  • Cap cutter, fabric
  • Cloth cutter
  • Clothing cutter
  • Computerized cutter, fabric
  • Cripple cutter, footwear
  • Cut-out-machine operator, footwear
  • Cutting-machine operator, clothing
  • Die cutter, fabric
  • Drapery cutter
  • Dress cutter
  • Fabric cutter
  • Felt cutter
  • Fur cutter
  • Glove cutter
  • Harness cutter, leather
  • Heel cutter, footwear
  • Insole cutter, footwear
  • Leather cutter
  • Leather garment cutter
  • Leather trimmer
  • Lining cutter, footwear
  • Outside cutter, footwear
  • Outsole cutter, footwear
  • Saddle cutter, leather
  • Sample cutter, fabric
  • Shank cutter, footwear
  • Shoe cutter
  • Snipper, footwear
  • Sole cutter, footwear
  • Stock cutter, footwear
  • Suit cutter
  • Tarpaulin cutter
  • Trimmer, leather
  • Trimmer, luggage
  • Upper cutter, footwear
  • Welt cutter, footwear
  • Welt trimmer, clothing

• Exclusion

  • Foremen/women, fabric, fur and leather cutters (See J025 Supervisors, Fabric, Fur and Leather Products Manufacturing)

J163 - Hide and Pelt Processing Workers

Occupations in this unit group are primarily concerned with trimming, scraping, cleaning, tanning, buffing and dyeing hides, pelts or skins to produce leather stock and finished furs.

• Example Titles

  • Beating-machine tender, hide and pelt processing
  • Colour matcher, leather tanneries
  • Colour mixer, leather tanneries
  • Dope mixer, leather tanneries
  • Leather buffer
  • Leather stretcher
  • Liquor mixer, leather tanneries
  • Pelt dresser
  • Pickler, hide and pelt
  • Shaving-machine tender, hide and pelt
  • Splitter, hide and pelt
  • Tanner, hide and pelt

• Exclusion

  • Foremen/women, hide and pelt processing (See J025 Supervisors, Fabric, Fur and Leather Products Manufacturing)

J164 - Inspectors and Testers, Fabric, Fur and Leather Products Manufacturing

Occupations in this unit group are primarily concerned with inspecting, grading, sampling and testing manufactured fabric, fur and leather products. Inspectors, graders, samplers and testers in fabric, fur and leather products manufacturing inspect products visually or perform simple tests of strength and durability.

• Example Titles

  • Bag inspector, textile
  • Boot and shoe sorter, manufacturing
  • Clothing examiner, clothing manufacturing
  • Clothing inspector, clothing manufacturing
  • Cushion and cover inspector, manufacturing
  • Examiner, gloves and mittens, manufacturing
  • Final inspector, garments
  • Footwear grader, manufacturing
  • Fur grader, manufacturing
  • Fur sorter, manufacturing
  • Fur-repair inspector
  • Hide grader, manufacturing
  • Inspector, fabric products manufacturing
  • Inspector, fur products manufacturing
  • Inspector, leather goods
  • Lasting inspector, footwear
  • Leather grader, fur and leather
  • Pelt grader, manufacturing
  • Sample clerk, fabric products manufacturing
  • Seconds inspector-grader, fabric, fur and leather products
  • Shirt inspector, manufacturing
  • Sole sorter, footwear
  • Sorter, fur, manufacturing
  • Swatch clerk, fabric, fur and leather products manufacturi

• Exclusion

  • Foremen/women, clothing inspectors (See J025 Supervisors, Fabric, Fur and Leather Products Manufacturing)