Job prospects Welder Operator in Québec

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "welder operator" 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 Welders and related machine operators (NOC 72106) 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.

In general, the anticipated economic slowdown in the main industries, which employ workers in this occupation, will limit demand.

The rising cost of living will limit sales growth for many companies in the manufacturing sector, which employs many of the workers in this occupation.

Despite the growing need for housing, growth in construction will be rather weak, while rising interest rates will hamper new construction in the residential sector.

Although men have most of the jobs in this occupation, the Commission de la construction du Québec has implemented certain measures to increase the number of women on construction sites.

While the employment outlook for this occupation is moderate at the provincial level, it will be limited or good in six regions.

Here are some key facts about Welders and related machine operators in Quebec:

• Approximately 21,250 people work in this occupation.
• Welders and related machine operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Repair and maintenance (NAICS 811): 23%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing (NAICS 332): 17%
  • Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333): 11%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 10%
  • Transportation equipment manufacturing (NAICS 336): 9%
• 60% of welders and related machine operators work all year, while 40% 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 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 6% of welders and related machine operators are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 12% compared to 12% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 11% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 66% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 8% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: less than 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

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "welder operator" in Québec or across Canada.

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