Artisans and Craftspersons

(NOC 5244)

in All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

This group includes those who use manual and artistic skills to design and make handcrafted objects, both functional and decorative. Makers of musical instruments are also included in this group. Most craftspeople are self-employed. Artistic floral arrangers usually work in florist shops and floral departments of retail shops or may be self-employed. Craft instructors are also included in this group and work for artisan guilds, colleges, private studios, and recreational organizations.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

  • Estimate 840 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$16.91

Median

$25.56

Maximum

Annual Pay

$5

Minimum

$7,528

Median

$34,875

Maximum

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Hourly Pay

$13.00

Minimum

$21.00

Median

$40.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$945

Minimum

$11,712

Median

$60,447

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

This group includes those who use manual and artistic skills to design and make handcrafted objects, both functional and decorative. Makers of musical instruments are also included in this group. Most craftspeople are self-employed. Artistic floral arrangers usually work in florist shops and floral departments of retail shops or may be self-employed. Craft instructors are also included in this group and work for artisan guilds, colleges, private studios, and recreational organizations.

Job duties

Carvers:

  • Use hand tools and woodworking machines to produce carvings from wood, stone, and other materials and to carve ornamental designs into wooden furniture and other objects.

Glass blowers:

  • Design and create glass objects using blowpipes and artisan's hand tools and equipment.

Metal arts workers:

  • Design metal jewellery, utensils, implements, wall hangings and other objects and create them from gold, silver, copper, pewter, and other metals.

Potters:

  • Design ornamental and ceramic functional earthenware pieces and create them using clay, moulds, potter's wheels and other equipment, glazing materials, and kilns.

Stained glass artists:

  • Design stained glass windows, lampshades and other objects and cut, paint, fire and assemble pieces of stained glass to create such products.

Instrument makers:

  • Construct instruments by applying their knowledge of wood, ebonite, metal properties and other materials and instrument design using hand and power tools.

Weavers:

  • Use hands or loom to interlace strips of flexible material like wool, cotton, silk, grasses, bark, and rawhide to make baskets, wreaths, wall hangings, clothing, rugs, blankets, and other objects.

Craft instructors:

  • Prepare craft making lessons, gather the required working materials and demonstrate and teach craft making techniques.

Artistic floral arrangers:

  • Design bouquets, corsages, sprays, wreaths, and other floral arrangements and select natural and artificial flowers, foliage and decorative accessories to create arrangements or other floral items to suit customers' requirements.

Sample job titles

  • artisan
  • artistic floral arranger
  • craft instructor (except education)
  • craftsperson
  • floral designer
  • musical instrument maker - artisan
  • potter
  • screen printing artisan
  • weaver - arts and crafts
  • woodcarver

Skills

  • You need creativity, imagination, and artistic ability. You should be able to visualize a finished piece of work from a sketch or a brief description. Self-discipline in meeting deadlines and a good business sense are also very important. Computer design and production skills may also be important.

Job requirements

  • Skills are often learned through apprenticeship with a master craftsperson.
  • A college diploma in fine craft techniques may be required.

Other considerations

  • Creative ability and talent, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, and knowledge of safe handling of material, tools, and equipment are required. Training programs are offered by artisan guilds, colleges and private studios.

By the numbers

Quick look

690

employed in 2016

51.1%

employed full-time

61.9%

self employed

66.9%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
33.1%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
55.7

median age

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

11,000

employed in 2016

53.3%

employed full-time

29.3%

self employed

55.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
44.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
38.2

median age

Where will I likely work?

42.0%

Halifax

$8,793 median annual income
16.7%

Southern

$2,779 median annual income
15.9%

Cape Breton

$13,527 median annual income
15.2%

North Shore

$3,219 median annual income
10.1%

Annapolis Valley

$11,643 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

35.3%

Retail trade

28.4%

Manufacturing

18.6%

Arts, entertainment and recreation

5.9%

Health care and social assistance

2.9%

Other services (except public administration)

What is the age of Employment?

26.0%

55-64

24.0%

65+

20.0%

45-54

14.0%

35-44

9.0%

25-34

8.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

29.7%

15-24

15.9%

35-44

15.7%

45-54

15.4%

25-34

14.9%

55-64

Top levels of education

31.2%

High school

$7,286 median annual income
26.1%

Bachelor

$9,640 median annual income
17.4%

College Diploma

$4,745 median annual income
8.0%

Less than high school

$11,850 median annual income
7.2%

Trade Certification

$9,797 median annual income

Compared to: All Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

26.4%

Bachelor

$17,829 median annual income
24.9%

High school

$7,552 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$22,120 median annual income
13.7%

Less than high school

$2,922 median annual income
7.9%

Master

$36,173 median annual income

Education & training

Ceramic Arts

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by producing art works out of clay and similar materials. They include courses in hand-built and wheel-thrown techniques, moulding, slips and glazes, trimming and decorating, firing and kiln operation, oxidation, mixed media, ceramic murals, and personal style development.

Institutions providing this program

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Fibre, Textile and Weaving Arts

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by constructing art works from woven or non-woven fabrics and fibrous materials. They include courses in weaving techniques and loom operation, non-woven techniques like knitting and crocheting, quilting, dyeing and pigmentation, printing and other finishing techniques, pattern design, tapestry, and personal style development.

Institutions providing this program

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Metal and Jewellery Arts

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by fashioning art works from gems, other stones, and precious metals. They include courses in gemology; metalsmithing and finishing, stone cutting and polishing, metal and non-metal casting and moulding, electroforming, metal colouring, enamelling, photo etching, lapidary technique and art, design concepts, and personal style development.

Institutions providing this program

NSCAD University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Craft Nova Scotia
Halifax, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.