National Occupational Classification (NOC): 85101
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Apple picker
- Fruit farm labourer
- Field and vegetable crop labourer
- General farm worker - harvesting
- Harvesting labourer
- Orchard worker
- Organic farm worker - harvesting
- Vegetable farm worker
What do harvesting labourers do?
Harvesting labourers and related workers assist other farm workers to plant, harvest, sort and pack crops. They participate in soil preparation, irrigation and crop planting, spraying and thinning. They are employed on fruit, vegetable and specialty crop farms.
Harvesting labourers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare and irrigate soil
- Plant, fertilize, thin and harvest crops
- Pick row and orchard crops
- Sort, weigh and pack fruit and vegetables at the farm
- Load, unload and transfer crates, supplies, farm produce and products for transport
- Clean up racks, trays, and harvest bins and general clean-up of growing, producing and packing areas
- Assist with general farm maintenance and maintenance of equipment and tools
- May assist in preparing garden beds for planting
- May write daily progress reports of inventory harvested.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Harvesting labourers work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 111-112 Farms
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
An employment outlook is not available for this occupation due to low levels of employment in the province.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Harvesting labourers belong to the broader occupational group 85101, 85102, 85120 (Harvesting, aquaculture and forestry labourers). This group is forecast to be tightening (rating of 3.1 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning new labour supply will be required to meet anticipated job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 3 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 33% | Western: 0% |
| Eastern: 0% | Labrador: 0% |
| Central: 33% | NL-unspecified: 33% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year).
Who works as harvesting labourers in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 25 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 60% of those employed were Male+ and 40% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 40% | 60% | 0% | 0% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do harvesting labourers make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all harvesting labourers in the reference year 2020 (70 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $12,300.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for harvesting labourers in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $15.00 | $15.00 | $20.00 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $14.60 | $16.50 | $23.28 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Bookkeeping
- Aquaculture
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- There are no specific education or training requirements.
- Progression to other farm worker positions is possible with experience.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.