Storekeepers and Parts Technicians

(NOC 1522)

in All Business, Finance, and Administration

Storekeepers and parts technicians order, warehouse, inventory, and sell parts. They work for manufacturing companies, warehouses, retail and wholesale companies, mining, forestry and construction companies, repair shops, hospitals, and other organizations.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Stable employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 35 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate High rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

  • Estimate 3555 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 9370 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Outlook: average, mostly balanced conditions in the labour market.

Size of the occupation: moderate, with occasional job opportunities.

Demand: Approximately 20 opportunities are estimated for Halifax, and 30 outside Halifax. Employment is expected to stay reasonably stable. High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to employment opportunities. There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation. A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.

Work hours: full-time, usually.

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$22.40

Median

$30.77

Maximum

Annual Pay

$8,055

Minimum

$36,684

Median

$58,743

Maximum

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$23.00

Median

$38.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,754

Minimum

$36,515

Median

$70,271

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Storekeepers and parts technicians order, warehouse, inventory, and sell parts. They work for manufacturing companies, warehouses, retail and wholesale companies, mining, forestry and construction companies, repair shops, hospitals, and other organizations.

Job duties

Storekeepers and parts technicians:

  • Receive and sort incoming parts and supplies.
  • Store items in an orderly and accessible manner in a warehouse, tool room, supply room or other area.
  • Process incoming requisitions and issue or distribute parts and supplies for internal usage.
  • Maintain records of orders and the amount, kind and location of parts and supplies on hand using manual or computerized inventory system.
  • Prepare orders to restock parts and supplies.
  • Sell spare and replacement parts for motor vehicles, machinery and equipment in a retail setting.
  • Advise retail customers or internal users on appropriateness of parts, supplies or materials requested.

Sample job titles

  • auto parts clerk - retail
  • medical supply attendant
  • parts clerk
  • parts counter clerk - retail
  • partsperson
  • parts technician
  • storekeeper
  • tool room attendant
  • warehouse clerk - parts and equipment

Skills

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Customer service skills
  • Computer application skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Mathematical skills
  • Manual dexterity
  • Mechanical aptitude
  • Organizational skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to multi-task
  • Ability to work independently
  • Strength and stamina

Job requirements

  • High school or equivalent, usually.
  • Specialized training courses may be required.
  • Trade Qualifier option: 8,100 hours and other criteria.
  • Certification for parts technicians is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
  • Write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for parts technicians.
  • Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.

Other considerations

  • Work is completed both indoors and outdoors. Indoor environments include offices, warehouses, and storerooms where large inventories are kept on rows of shelves or in bins.
  • Work hours vary by industry. Most work a 40-hour workweek and those in large facilities may work shifts.
  • Risks include operating large equipment like lift trucks and handling, transporting, and storing hazardous materials.
  • The work can be physically demanding. Workers stand, walk, lift, and drive during the workday.
  • This trade appeals to service-oriented people.
  • Experience in a related clerical role, or as a warehouse worker, may be required for parts technicians.
  • The activities of a parts technician are similar for all industries, but the product knowledge necessary is quite different. Parts technicians need an up-to-date knowledge of the industry as well as technical knowledge of the parts and their applications.
  • This career offers stable employment and is not highly affected by seasonal employment trends.
  • The computer and parts catalogs are the most important tools for the parts technician.
  • Use of electronic catalogs requires parts technicians to be precise in the use of terminology within industry sectors in order to locate the correct parts in the catalogs.
  • Experienced parts technicians may move into other positions like sales representative, purchasing representative, parts department management, store manager, or store owner.
  • Parts technicians may specialize in a line of parts like automotive parts, recreational vehicle parts, marine parts, heavy equipment parts, agricultural machinery parts, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning parts, or refrigeration parts.

By the numbers

Quick look

1,110

employed in 2016

86.5%

employed full-time

2.3%

self employed

15.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
84.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
46.6

median age

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

63,775

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

73.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
26.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.9

median age

Where will I likely work?

41.5%

Halifax

$38,261 median annual income
20.1%

North Shore

$33,997 median annual income
15.2%

Annapolis Valley

$38,399 median annual income
12.5%

Southern

$30,189 median annual income
10.7%

Cape Breton

$39,486 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

42.3%

Retail trade

13.3%

Wholesale trade

10.7%

Manufacturing

7.7%

Public administration

7.7%

Transportation and warehousing

What is the age of Employment?

27.0%

45-54

23.0%

55-64

18.0%

35-44

15.0%

25-34

13.0%

15-24

5.0%

65+

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

26.3%

45-54

22.6%

55-64

19.4%

35-44

16.7%

25-34

7.5%

65+

Top levels of education

46.4%

High school

$36,631 median annual income
18.5%

Less than high school

$30,758 median annual income
16.2%

College Diploma

$37,723 median annual income
13.5%

Trade Certification

$38,977 median annual income
2.7%

Bachelor

N/A

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

33.8%

College Diploma

$36,304 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$32,903 median annual income
22.8%

Bachelor

$41,755 median annual income
5.8%

Trade Certification

$34,807 median annual income
4.9%

Less than high school

$23,174 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

Parts and Warehousing Operations and Maintenance Technician

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply technical knowledge and skills to maintain inventory control, care for inventory, and make minor repairs to warehouse equipment.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Parts Technician

Certificate of Qualification (Voluntary): This is a designated trade in Nova Scotia. Employers may require certification, but a certificate is not needed to legally work in this trade.

Regulating body:
Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency
Halifax, NS

Contacts

Supply Chain Canada - Nova Scotia Institute
Halifax, NS
Automotive Human Resource Sector Council of Nova Scotia
Dartmouth, NS

Additional resources