Mail and parcel sorters and related occupations
Career Overview
Mail, parcel sorters and workers in related jobs process and sort mail and parcels in post offices, mail processing plants, warehouses and internal mail rooms.
People with this job work for Canada Post Corporation, courier and parcel express companies and establishments throughout the public and private sector.
Job Titles
Duties
Mail sorters:
- Sort mail based on destination
- Bundle, label, bag and direct mail to the proper delivery route
- Operate vehicles and material handling equipment to sort mail and load postal trucks
- Search directories to find the correct address for redirected mail
Related (mail room) workers:
- Receive, process, sort and distribute incoming/outgoing mail, faxes, messages as well as courier packages
- Maintain address databases and produce personalized mailings
- Print and photocopy material
- Stuff envelopes and add address labels
- Weigh outgoing mail, calculate and use proper postage, and bundle by postal code
- May operate and maintain print shop and mailing house equipment
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
2,940% Employed Full Time
47%Mail and parcel sorters may work inside post offices, in mail processing plants or in mail rooms of large companies. Work may be full-time, part-time or seasonal. Shift work may be required on nights and weekends.
Mail, parcel sorters and related workers use technology to prepare parcels and courier items for shipping. People with these jobs must be able to lift heavy bags of mail and stand for most of their shift. Some workers may need to wear a uniform which the employer supplies.
Career Pathways
These jobs are considered entry level and individuals can expect to work on a part-time or casual basis before moving to full-time work. With additional training or experience, workers may be promoted to supervisory or facility management positions.
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
Mail, parcel sorters and related workers are required to have completed secondary school or some college office administration courses.
Other qualifications may include:
- On-the-job training
- Physical fitness may be required for some positions
- Driver's licence and forklift ticket for some positions
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!
Talking to others to share information effectively.
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.
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.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
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
2,940Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 80 | 2.7% |
| Kootenay | 80 | 2.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,230 | 75.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 45 | 1.5% |
| Northeast | 30 | 1.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 235 | 8.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 245 | 8.3% |
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)
1,230Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | -0.5% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -1.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,010 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 40 | 3.7% |
| Northeast | 20 | 5.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 60 | 1.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 70 | 1.1% |
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) |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 1,160 |
| Retail Trade | 20 |
| Public Administration | 20 |
| Finance, Insurance and Real Estate | 10 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 10 |
Insights from Industry
New technology continues to make these careers more automated. People communicate more through email and social media, which has decreased the demand for workers in these jobs. However, purchasing products online continues to grow in popularity and this trend may help to keep or create job openings.
Canada Post offers training to workers who are interested in moving to supervisor or management positions. Corporate postal jobs are in high demand and may be more difficult to get because many people apply for them.
Resources
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BC Mail Pluswww.gov.bc.ca/mailservices
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Canada Postwww.canadapost.ca/
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Canada Post Corporation – Jobsjobs.canadapost.ca/