Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities
Career Overview
Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities:
- Carry out a variety of material handling, cleaning and routine general labouring activities
- Work for petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, and for electrical, water and waste treatment utilities
Job Titles
Duties
Labourers in this group perform some or all of the following duties:
- Feed and unload production machinery and equipment
- Clean chemical processing machines and equipment and production areas
- Move, sort and pile materials and products manually and using powered equipment
- Help other workers to operate, repair and maintain process equipment, gas distribution, water filtration and waste water plant equipment
- Carry out general duties such as basic construction, painting and other manual tasks
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
805% Employed Full Time
48%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in an indoor plant environment
- Working with machinery may be a source of injury
- Labourers may be exposed to dangerous chemicals, noise and strong, unpleasant odours
Career Pathways
Considerable movement is possible among jobs in this occupational group.
Progression to operator positions in the chemical or utility industry is possible with experience and appropriate entry qualifications.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school may be required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Academic/Basic Upgrading
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
805Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 1.2% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 2.5% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 520 | 65.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.2% |
| Northeast | 15 | 1.9% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 105 | 13.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 120 | 15.0% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
290Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 240 | 1.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 30 | 0.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 20 | 0.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 80 |
| Retail Trade | 60 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | 40 |
| Wholesale Trade | 30 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 30 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.