Wood, Pulp, and Paper Processing Labourers

(NOC 9614)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Labourers in this group carry out a variety of general labouring and routine wood processing activities and help pulp mill and papermaking machine operators. They work for pulp and paper, and paper converting companies, sawmills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing companies.

Job Outlook

Limited

Read more

  • Estimate Decline employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 10 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate High rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

  • Estimate 435 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1945 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$16.52

Median

$21.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$7,395

Minimum

$30,426

Median

$54,970

Maximum

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Hourly Pay

$14.00

Minimum

$20.80

Median

$33.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,056

Minimum

$30,111

Median

$70,518

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Labourers in this group carry out a variety of general labouring and routine wood processing activities and help pulp mill and papermaking machine operators. They work for pulp and paper, and paper converting companies, sawmills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing companies.

Job duties

Wood, pulp, and paper processing labourers:

  • 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.
  • Help other wood processing workers to use, maintain and repair machines and equipment and carry out other wood processing activities

Sample job titles

  • lumber handler - wood processing
  • Paper converting labourer
  • pulp and paper labourer
  • sawmill labourer
  • Sawmill worker
  • utility man/woman - pulp and paper
  • wood processing labourer

Skills

  • You should have good physical health. You must be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

  • High school is required by the pulp and paper industry and by other large employers.

Other considerations

  • There is considerable movement among jobs within individual companies. Movement to machine or plant operating positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

425

employed in 2016

85.9%

employed full-time

5.9%

self employed

11.8%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
88.2%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
41.1

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

83.2%

employed full-time

3.2%

self employed

27.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
72.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

32.9%

North Shore

$28,257 median annual income
23.5%

Annapolis Valley

$34,591 median annual income
20.0%

Southern

$31,518 median annual income
17.6%

Halifax

$28,829 median annual income
5.9%

Cape Breton

N/A

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

86.4%

Manufacturing

6.8%

Wholesale trade

3.4%

Information and cultural industries

3.4%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

What is the age of Employment?

26.0%

15-24

25.0%

45-54

19.0%

35-44

14.0%

25-34

13.0%

55-64

4.0%

65+

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

24.5%

45-54

20.8%

55-64

19.3%

35-44

16.5%

25-34

15.0%

15-24

Top levels of education

51.8%

High school

$28,915 median annual income
22.4%

Less than high school

$29,649 median annual income
11.8%

College Diploma

$41,804 median annual income
9.4%

Trade Certification

N/A
4.7%

Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

38.1%

High school

$28,505 median annual income
23.3%

Less than high school

$19,224 median annual income
19.9%

College Diploma

$38,781 median annual income
12.2%

Trade Certification

$43,975 median annual income
4.5%

Bachelor

$39,715 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Forestry Safety Society of Nova Scotia
Truro, NS
Forest Nova Scotia
Hildon, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.