Agricultural and fish products inspectors
Career Overview
Agricultural and fish products inspectors:
- Inspect agricultural and fish products for conformity to prescribed production, storage and transportation standards
- Work for government departments and agencies and for private sector food processing companies
- Supervisors of agricultural and fish products inspectors are also included in this group
Job Titles
Duties
Fish and fish products inspectors:
- Inspect fish, fish products, fish handling and processing methods, and prepare reports and ensure that regulations are followed
Fruit and vegetables inspectors:
- Examine fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables at inspection centres and prepare reports on crop production and market conditions
Grain inspectors:
- Inspect and grade all classes of grain at terminal elevators, monitor the fumigation of infested grain, and examine storage, handling and transportation equipment to ensure that sanitary procedures are followed
Meat inspectors:
- Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering and meat processing plants, and inspect carcasses to ensure they are fit for consumption
Plant protection inspectors:
- Approve seed crops and oversee the quarantine, treatment or destruction of plants and plant products, and the fumigation of plants and plant product imports and exports
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
515% Employed Full Time
74%Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office, or an outdoor work environment where the worker is exposed to various weather conditions. Also, workers may be exposed to noxious, intense or prolonged odours, and infectious bacteria and viruses as a result of contact with infectious materials or micro-organisms that may cause illness.
Career Pathways
With experience, promotion to managerial positions in this field is possible.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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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 is required
- Government inspectors usually require a bachelor's degree or college diploma in agriculture, biology, chemistry, food processing technology or a related discipline
- Inspectors (other than government) may require a bachelor's degree or college diploma in a related discipline
- Several years of experience in agricultural production or fish processing are usually required
- Completion of in-house training courses is required
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Agriculture Related
- Aquaculture/Fisheries
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!
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
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
515Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | 0.0% |
| Kootenay | 15 | 2.9% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 385 | 74.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 25 | 4.9% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 50 | 9.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 40 | 7.8% |
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)
210Forecasted 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 | 170 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 2.4% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 10 | 0.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 10 | 0.9% |
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) |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | 110 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 40 |
| Wholesale Trade | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 20 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
