Upholsterers
Occupation · NOC 2021 63221 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 63221
- TEER
- 3
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 589
- Median wage, Canada
- C$22.46 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 263
OC<CANUPHOLSTERERS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 632210<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0
About this occupation
Upholsterers cover furniture, fixtures and similar items with fabric, leather or other upholstery materials. They are employed by furniture, aircraft, motor vehicle and other manufacturing companies, furniture retail outlets and repair shops or they may be self-employed.
Example job titles
- automobile upholsterer
- custom upholsterer
- furniture upholsterer
- upholsterer
- upholstery repairer
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Discuss upholstery fabric, colour, and style with customers and provide cost estimate for upholstering furniture or other items
- Lay out, measure and cut upholstery materials according to sketches or design specifications
- Replace worn-out webbing, springs and other furniture parts using hand and power tools
- Operate sewing machines or sew upholstery materials by hand to seam cushions and join sections of covering materials
- Install padding and underlays and fasten covering materials to furniture frames
- Tack, glue or sew ornamental trim, braids or buttons on upholstered items
- Lay out, cut, fabricate and install upholstery in aircrafts, motor vehicles, railway cars, boats and ships
- May repair furniture frames and refinish wood surfaces
- May make upholstery patterns from sketches, customer descriptions or blueprints
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of college or other specialized courses or an apprenticeship program in furniture upholstering and repair or Several years of on-the-job training, including working as an upholsterer helper are usually required.
- Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 27 |
| 2018 | 45 |
| 2019 | 56 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 74 |
| 2022 | 141 |
| 2023 | 114 |
| 2024 | 62 |
| 2025 | 34 |
| 2026 | 2 |
- Meubles BDM + inc.114
- Ameublement Elran52
- Decor-Rest Furniture Ltd.45
- Minhas Furniture House Ltd29
- Julien Beaudoin Ltee20
- Canadel inc.20
- Bombardier Aviation18
- TEC Innovation Inc.15
- Mobilier Manora Inc.13
- AAR Aircraft Services – Trois-Rivières ULC9
- Fornirama inc.8
- Superior Seating Hospitality Inc.7
- Skyline Furniture Ltd.7
- Van Gogh Designs Furniture Ltd.7
- Entreprises E. F. Arseneault Inc.7
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 10 |
| 2025 | 15 | 0 |
| 2024 | 70 | 0 |
| 2023 | 80 | 5 |
| 2022 | 15 | 0 |
| 2021 | 40 | 0 |
| 2020 | 25 | 5 |
| 2019 | 20 | 95 |
| 2018 | 5 | 50 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 55 | 0 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 55 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2018 | 55 |
| 2019 | 115 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2021 | 40 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 85 |
| 2024 | 70 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 20 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
- Canadian Experience Class20
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$17.99 | C$22.46 | C$31.00 |
| Manitoba | C$16.00 | C$19.95 | C$24.56 |
| Ontario | C$18.50 | C$24.45 | C$35.00 |
| Quebec | C$18.00 | C$22.00 | C$27.63 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 263
- Vacancies advertised
- 457
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$22.00
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