Job prospects Lumber Handler - Building Supplies in Québec

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "lumber handler - building supplies" in Québec or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Québec

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 Quebec 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.

Employment in this occupation is evolving with trends that influence manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, and trade.

The outlook will be positive in most manufacturing sectors, including food and beverage manufacturing where a significant portion of material handlers are employed.

These workers are expected to benefit from the expansion of warehousing services (planning, logistics, transportation, labelling, inventory and stock management), the e-commerce craze, as well as the advent of new e-sales warehouses, allowing for direct delivery of products purchased online.

However, inflation and rising interest rates, causing a loss of household purchasing power, could lead to a decrease in consumption, which would decrease demand for this workforce.

While the employment outlook for this occupation will be moderate at the provincial level, it will be limited in the Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine region.

Here are some key facts about Material handlers in Quebec:

• Approximately 54,950 people work in this occupation.
• Material handlers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 16%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 12%
  • Truck transportation (NAICS 484): 9%
  • Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (NAICS 311, 312): 8%
  • Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 485-486, 487, 493): 7%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 86% compared to 82% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 14% compared to 18% for all occupations
• 61% of material handlers work all year, while 39% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of material handlers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 87% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 13% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 30% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 34% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 18% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 11% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Québec 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 "lumber handler - building supplies" Material handlers (NOC 75101) or across Canada.

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