Weavers, Knitters and Other Fabric Making Workers

(NOC 9442)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Weavers, knitters and other workers in fabric making workers use machines to process yarn or thread into woven, non-woven and knitted products like cloth, lace, carpets, rope, industrial fabric, hosiery and knitted clothes or to quilt and embroider fabric. This group also includes workers who carry out activities like reproducing patterns, drawing-in and tying warps and setting up looms. They work for textile companies and clothing and mattress manufacturing companies.

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 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

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

$4,907

Minimum

$33,055

Median

$45,452

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

Weavers, knitters and other workers in fabric making workers use machines to process yarn or thread into woven, non-woven and knitted products like cloth, lace, carpets, rope, industrial fabric, hosiery and knitted clothes or to quilt and embroider fabric. This group also includes workers who carry out activities like reproducing patterns, drawing-in and tying warps and setting up looms. They work for textile companies and clothing and mattress manufacturing companies.

Job duties

Weavers, knitters and other fabric making workers:

  • Set up looms or other processing machines.
  • Read loom patterns and prepare loom pattern mechanisms for processing.
  • Use looms to weave yarn or thread into textile fabrics or products.
  • Use machines that produce twine, ropes or nets.
  • Use batteries of knitting machines to make knitted fabric, hosiery, garments or other products.
  • Use carpet tufting machines, felt making needle-punch machines, and other machines to make textile products.
  • Use large automatic multi-needle machines to embroider material or to sew lengths of several layers of material to make yard goods, quilts or mattress coverings.
  • Patrol machines and check fabrics or products for defects and to verify efficient operation.
  • Investigate machine stoppages.
  • Repair minor mechanical problems like broken or defective needles.
  • Notify supervisor or repairers of mechanical malfunctions.

Sample job titles

  • carpet weaver
  • drawing-in machine operator
  • embroidery machine operator
  • hosiery knitter
  • knitting machine operator
  • loom operator
  • mattress sewing machine operator
  • pinning machine operator
  • quilting machine operator
  • tufting operator
  • warp knitting machine tender
  • warp tier-in
  • weaver

Skills

  • You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and mechanical skills are important. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • On-the-job training is provided for up to several months, depending on the complexity of the product, whether equipment set-up and maintenance is done by the operator, and the number of machines used.
  • Experience as a labourer in the same company may be necessary for some operators in this group.

Other considerations

  • Shift work may be typical for many of these jobs. Movement among employers may be limited by differences in machines and products. Movement to textile machinery mechanics and repairers or to supervisor positions is possible with experience and training.

By the numbers

Quick look

195

employed in 2016

89.7%

employed full-time

15.4%

self employed

61.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
38.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
49.8

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?

42.1%

North Shore

$33,867 median annual income
31.6%

Annapolis Valley

$38,295 median annual income
10.5%

Cape Breton

N/A
7.9%

Southern

N/A
7.9%

Halifax

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

93.3%

Manufacturing

6.7%

Professional, scientific and technical services

What is the age of Employment?

34.0%

45-54

21.0%

25-34

18.0%

55-64

16.0%

35-44

5.0%

65+

5.0%

15-24

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

48.7%

High school

$34,622 median annual income
17.9%

College Diploma

N/A
15.4%

Less than high school

N/A
7.7%

Trade Certification

N/A
5.1%

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

Canadian Textile Industry Association
Ottawa, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.