Fabric, Fur and Leather Cutters

(NOC 9445)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Fabric cutters cut fabric to make parts for clothes, linens and other pieces. Fur cutters cut fur pelts to make parts for clothes and other fur items. Leather cutters cut leather to make parts for shoes, clothes and other leather pieces. Fabric cutters work for clothing and textile manufacturers and other manufacturers of fabric products. Fur cutters work for furriers and fur products manufacturers. Leather cutters work for shoe and other leather products manufacturers.

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

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

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

Fabric cutters cut fabric to make parts for clothes, linens and other pieces. Fur cutters cut fur pelts to make parts for clothes and other fur items. Leather cutters cut leather to make parts for shoes, clothes and other leather pieces. Fabric cutters work for clothing and textile manufacturers and other manufacturers of fabric products. Fur cutters work for furriers and fur products manufacturers. Leather cutters work for shoe and other leather products manufacturers.

Job duties

Fabric cutters:

  • Place patterns on top of layers of fabric and cut fabric using electric or manual knives, cutters or computer numerically controlled (CNC) cutting devices.
  • Adjust cutting technique to type of fabric and style of garment.
  • May cut fabric samples.

Fur cutters:

  • Cut fur skins in diagonal strips to specified length and shape of pelt using furrier's knives and cutters.
  • Number pelts to show their location on pattern.
  • May sort or match skins and may prepare fur samples.

Leather cutters:

  • Select leather and cutting dies for leather goods and shoe parts according to specifications.
  • Position leather on cutting bed of machine, maximizing usage according to skin grain, skin flaws and skin stretch.
  • Use clicker or punch press to stretch leather.
  • Use machine to cut leather or cut single leather skins by hand to make leather products.
  • May cut leather samples.

Sample job titles

  • clothing cutter
  • fabric cutter
  • fur cutter
  • glove cutter
  • leather cutter
  • sample cutter
  • shoe cutter

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

  • Some high school is usually required.
  • Experience as a fabric, fur or leather cutter is necessary for fabric, fur or leather sample cutters.
  • Some on-the-job training is provided for jobs in this group.
  • Several years of on-the-job training are provided for fur cutters.

Other considerations

  • Shift work may be typical for many of these jobs. There is little movement among the different kinds of cutters in this group. Movement to supervisor positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

< 50

employed in 2016

60.0%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

40.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
60%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
37.7

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?

60.0%

North Shore

N/A
40.0%

Southern

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

71.4%

Manufacturing

28.6%

Health care and social assistance

What is the age of Employment?

25.0%

15-24

25.0%

55-64

25.0%

25-34

25.0%

35-44

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

40.0%

High school

N/A
20.0%

Less than high school

N/A
20.0%

College Diploma

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.