Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing
Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing carry out a variety of general labouring and routine wood processing activities and assist pulp mill and papermaking machine operators.
Moderate
Market Demand
TEER 5
Skill Level
NS, NB, QC
Top Provinces
What They Do
- 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.
Qualifications
- checkCompletion of secondary school is required by the pulp and paper industry and by other large employers.
Market Outlook by Province
Nova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing (NOC 95103) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Due to the seasonal nature of this occupation, employment opportunities tend to be more favourable during the summer months.Here are some key facts about labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing in Nova Scotia: Approximately 450 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing mainly work in the following sectors: Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 63%Paper manufacturing (NAICS 322): 24%Construction (NAICS 23): 7% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 90% compared to 82% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 10% compared to 18% for all occupations49% of labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing work all year, while 51% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 38 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.Less than 5% of labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 88% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 12% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 26% compared to 10% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 57% compared to 27% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 7% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 20% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
Moderate
Outlook
New Brunswick
The employment outlook will be Limited for labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing (NOC 95103) in New Brunswick for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Due to the seasonal nature of this occupation, employment opportunities tend to be more favourable during the summer months.Here are some key facts about labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing in New Brunswick: Approximately 900 people work in this occupation. Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing mainly work in the following sectors: Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 65%Paper manufacturing (NAICS 322): 16%Forestry and logging (NAICS 113, 1153): 5% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 91% compared to 84% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 10% compared to 16% for all occupations60% of labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.Less than 5% of labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing are self-employed compared to an average of 10% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 88% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 12% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 24% compared to 11% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 54% compared to 30% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 9% compared to 12% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 23% for all occupations bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 16% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 7% for all occupations
Limited
Outlook
Quebec
The employment outlook will be Limited for labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing (NOC 95103) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Here are some key facts about labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing in Quebec: Approximately 6,600 people work in this occupation. Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing mainly work in the following sectors: Wood product manufacturing (NAICS 321): 63%Paper manufacturing (NAICS 322): 17% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 91% compared to 82% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 9% compared to 18% for all occupations60% of labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.Less than 5% of labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 85% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 15% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 38% compared to 12% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 30% compared to 19% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 23% compared to 19% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 8% compared to 22% for all occupations bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
Limited
Outlook
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Immigration Pathways
TEER 5 occupations require short-term work demonstration and minimal formal education. Immigration pathways are limited but some provincial programs apply.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Agri-Food Pilot
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Search Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processingarrow_forwardCore Competencies
Operation and Control
to handle tools such as saws, grinders or conveyors in order to process wood and prepare it for further production stages
Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
to detect abnormalities or issues that may affect production quality or safety, which involves observing indicators, gauges and computer screens
Stamina
to perform tasks, such as feeding logs onto conveyors or aligning logs manually, for extended periods
Static Strength
to safely handle heavy materials such as logs, lumber and equipment
Collaboration
to assist other wood processing workers in operating, maintaining and repairing various machines and equipment
Knowledge in Manufacturing, Processing and Production
to understand how raw materials are transformed into finished products helps them perform tasks more effectively and in alignment with the broader production goals
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