Job prospects Packaging Machine Operator - Food Processing in Ontario

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Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "packaging machine operator - food processing" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing (NOC 94140) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Food and beverage manufacturers

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Several food and beverage manufacturers have announced expansions
• Adoption of newer production systems may alter the roles of operators over the long term

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Process Operator – Food Manufacturing, is the voluntary skilled trade associated with this occupation in Ontario.

Here are some key facts about Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing in Ontario:

• Approximately 27,950 people work in this occupation.
• Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (NAICS 311, 312): 60%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 71% of process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 69% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 31% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 18% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 42% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 17% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 13% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "packaging machine operator - food processing" Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing (NOC 94140) or across Canada.

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