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Material Handlers  (NOC 7452)
Edmundston--Woodstock Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

This unit group includes workers who handle, move, load and unload materials by hand or using a variety of material handling equipment. They are employed by transportation, storage and moving companies, and by a variety of manufacturing and processing companies and retail and wholesale warehouses.

bin filler, coal handler, conveyor console operator, forklift truck operator, freight handler (except air transport), furniture mover, lumber piler – building supplies, material handler, railway car loader, stockpiler, storage worker – material handling, truck loader, warehouseman/woman.

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Material handlers (manual) perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Load, unload and move products and materials by hand or using basic material handling equipment
  • Move household appliances and furniture onto and off moving trucks or vans
  • Set up rooms for events, dismantle moveable walls and partitions, and organize or set up office furniture
  • Perform other material handling activities such as counting, weighing, sorting, packing and unpacking.
Material handlers (equipment operators) perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Operate winches and other loading devices to load and unload materials onto and off trucks, railway cars and loading docks of warehouses and industrial establishments
  • Operate industrial trucks, tractors, loaders and other equipment to transport materials to and from transportation vehicles and loading docks and to store and retrieve materials in warehouses
  • Connect hoses or pipes and operate equipment to load and unload liquid petroleum, chemical or other products into or from tank cars, tank trucks or storage tanks
  • Operate equipment to dump materials such as coal, ore and grain into or to remove materials from railway cars, trucks or other vehicles
  • Operate conveyors and equipment to transfer grain or other materials from transportation vehicles to elevators, bins or other storage areas
  • May perform other activities, such as opening containers and crates, filling warehouse orders, assisting in taking inventory and weighing and checking materials.
Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Edmundston, Grand Falls, Grand-Sault, St. Leonard, Woodstock

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Material Handlers in Edmundston--Woodstock Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

Local Employment Potential Information

Table on the employment potential for Material Handlers in Edmundston--Woodstock Region as well as in the rest of the New Brunswick.
Location Employment Potential Release Date
Edmundston--Woodstock Region Fair 2012-05-14

Currently the chances of qualified Material Handlers finding employment are considered to be fair in the local area.

Job opportunities in this occupation are mostly found in these industries: 1) wholesale trade; 2) retail trade; and 3) transportation and warehousing. The main reason employment prospects are considered fair for this occupation is that local employers report difficulty attracting material handlers. Recruitment is difficult, because salaries are low and the job is physically demanding, making this work unattractive to many. This is a large occupational group and material handler positions are created by personnel turnover and attrition. Many vacancies were observed for this occupation during the past three years. There are many opportunities for material handlers who possess specialized skills, such as knowledge of computerized inventory systems or fork lift operation.

Employment opportunities for Material Handlers may vary in different communities across the province. You may want to check for specific opportunities in your community. Also, people who are able to work elsewhere may want to research the opportunities for this occupation in other areas of NB or in other provinces across the country.

[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]

Local Labour Market News

Week of Feb 04 – Feb 08, 2013

  • Staples announced the closing of its Grand-Sault store on November 30 as part of a restructuring. Fifteen employees will lose their jobs.

Week of Jan 28 – Feb 01, 2013

Week of Dec 17 – Dec 21, 2012

Week of Dec 10 – Dec 14, 2012

  • A new Familiprix pharmacy has opened in downtown Edmundston.
[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]
Please consult the New Brunswick and Canada tabs for more useful information related to outlook.