Job prospects Orchard Worker in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "orchard worker" 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 Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• Due to the seasonal nature of this occupation, employment opportunities tend to be more favourable during the summer months.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Most work on farms

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Population growth will support job prospects in this occupation
• Demand for local and organic produce, non-traditional crops, and growing export markets
• Agricultural industry can be sensitive to factors such as weather and global trade and prices

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Formal education is usually not required and employers often provide on-the-job training

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• Harvesting labourers is one of the key temporary foreign agricultural worker occupational groups that support activities in primary agriculture
• Most farms are located in southern Ontario.

Here are some key facts about Harvesting labourers in Ontario:

• Approximately 8,450 people work in this occupation.
• Harvesting labourers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Agriculture (NAICS 111, 112, 1151, 1152): 94%
  • Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 76% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 24% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 35% of harvesting labourers work all year, while 65% 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 32 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 5% of harvesting labourers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 54% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 46% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 54% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 30% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 7% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 5% 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 an "orchard worker" in Ontario or across Canada.

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