Job prospects Loader-unloader - Material Handling in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "loader-unloader - material handling" in Alberta or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Alberta

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Material handlers (NOC 75101) in Alberta for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

E-commerce, or online shopping, has gained a growing percentage of total retail sales across Canada in recent years. In response, retailers have built large fulfillment centres near urban areas to bring down delivery costs and times, leading to a high demand for this occupation. It is unlikely that the trend will reverse in the near term.

Here are some key facts about Material handlers in Alberta:

• Approximately 23,950 people work in this occupation.
• Material handlers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 22%
  • Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 21%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 14%
  • Truck transportation (NAICS 484): 7%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 86% compared to 80% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 14% compared to 20% for all occupations
• 59% of material handlers work all year, while 41% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of material handlers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 81% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: 19% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 17% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 47% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 12% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 12% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Alberta 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 "loader-unloader - material handling" Material handlers (NOC 75101) or across Canada.

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