Metal Fabrication Labourers

(NOC 9612)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Metal fabrication labourers remove extra metal and unwanted materials from metal parts, castings and other metal products and do other labouring activities. They work for structural steel, boiler and platework production plants, heavy machinery manufacturing plants, sheet metal fabrication shops, shipbuilding and other metal products manufacturing companies.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Weak growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 25 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

$14.92

Minimum

$20.00

Median

$35.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,295

Minimum

$27,939

Median

$55,722

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

Metal fabrication labourers remove extra metal and unwanted materials from metal parts, castings and other metal products and do other labouring activities. They work for structural steel, boiler and platework production plants, heavy machinery manufacturing plants, sheet metal fabrication shops, shipbuilding and other metal products manufacturing companies.

Job duties

Metal fabrication labourers:

  • Read and understand work orders.
  • Use metal cleaning equipment like wheelabrators, deburrers and shotblasters to remove extra welds, rust, scale and other material from surfaces of metal parts, castings and other metal products.
  • Polish metal products to mirror finish.
  • Dip metal products in cleaning solutions.
  • Help structural steel and platework fitters, sheet metal workers, metalworking machine operators or other metal workers.
  • Move raw materials and finished metal products manually or using hoists or other devices.
  • Sort metal sheets and parts, scrap metal and other materials.
  • Clean work areas and equipment.
  • Load and unload vehicles using hand truck or dolly.
  • May cut, grind or chip extra metal from metal products using hand tools.

Sample job titles

  • blacksmith helper
  • buffing machine tender
  • grinder-deburrer
  • labourer
  • metal cleaner
  • metalworking machine helper
  • plater helper
  • shipfitter helper
  • shotblaster
  • wheelabrator operator

Skills

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

Job requirements

  • Some high school education may be required.

Other considerations

  • Work in these jobs is generally seasonal. Shifts at various hours of the day or on a part-time basis is common. Movement to machine and process operator positions is possible with experience and there is movement among jobs in this group.

By the numbers

Quick look

225

employed in 2016

95.7%

employed full-time

8.7%

self employed

17.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
82.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43

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?

33.3%

Halifax

$24,016 median annual income
24.4%

North Shore

$16,251 median annual income
20.0%

Southern

$47,639 median annual income
11.1%

Cape Breton

$36,519 median annual income
11.1%

Annapolis Valley

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

78.1%

Manufacturing

15.6%

Construction

6.3%

Wholesale trade

What is the age of Employment?

25.0%

15-24

23.0%

45-54

20.0%

55-64

14.0%

25-34

14.0%

35-44

5.0%

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

44.4%

High school

$24,016 median annual income
22.2%

Less than high school

$36,406 median annual income
20.0%

College Diploma

$26,996 median annual income
8.9%

Trade Certification

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

No contacts were found under this occupation profile

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.