Labourers in Fish and Seafood Processing

National Occupational Classification (NOC): 95107

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

  • Cannery labourer
  • Fish briner – fish processing
  • Fish culler
  • Fish curing worker
  • Fish plant labourer
  • Fish salter – fish processing
  • Fish sorter
  • Fish weigher
  • Shellfish labourer
  • Shellfish packer – fish processing


What do labourers in fish and seafood processing do?

Labourers in fish and seafood processing perform clean-up, packaging, material handling and other elemental activities related to fish and seafood processing. They are employed in fish and seafood processing and packaging plants.

Labourers in fish and seafood processing perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Unload fish and shellfish from fishing vessels and transport them by hand or forklift truck to work area in fish processing plant
  • Immerse fresh fish fillets in brine solution to condition them for wrapping or freezing
  • Weigh fish or shellfish, record weight and pack fish in ice
  • Sort fish according to species, weight and destination
  • Clean work areas and equipment
  • Transport supplies and packaging materials throughout plant and storage area manually or with powered equipment
  • Measure and dump ingredients into hoppers of mixing and grinding machines.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

 

Labourers in fish and seafood processing primarily work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:

  • 311   Food manufacturing
  • 114   Fishing, hunting and trapping
  • 561   Administrative and support services

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

Short and Long Term Occupational Projections

Short Term Projections for 2023-2025

The employment outlook will be moderate for labourers in fish and seafood processing in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 3 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

Long Term Projections for 2023-2032

The outlook for labourers in fish and seafood processing is forecast to be tightening (rating of 2.5 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 2 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:

Avalon: 0% Western: 50%
Eastern: 0% Labrador: 0%
Central: 0% NL-unspecified: 50%

Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)



Who works as labourers in fish and seafood processing in Newfoundland and Labrador?

During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 1,605 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 55% of those employed were Male+ and 45% 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+
13% 45% 34% 7%

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

How much do labourers in fish and seafood processing make?

Annual Earnings

The median employment income for all labourers in fish and seafood processing in the reference year 2020 (2,245 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $13,400.

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

Hourly Earnings

Salary information for labourers in fish and seafood processing in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
Newfoundland and Labrador $15.00 $16.60 $18.27

 

The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
$14.56 $16.67 $20.00

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings: (2023)

  • There is no skills data currently available for this occupation.

Source: Lightcast



What training is required?

  • Some secondary school education may be required.
  • Progression to other occupations in the fish processing industry 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.

 

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