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Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing

Occupation · NOC 2021 95103 · Canada

NOC 2021 code
95103
TEER
5
Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
1,773
Median wage, Canada
C$24.13 per hour
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
436
NOC95103TEER 5
Year by year
Data as at 2026
OC<CANLABOURERS<IN<WOOD<PULP<AND<PAPER<PROCE
951038<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

About this occupation

Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing carry out a variety of general labouring and routine wood processing activities and assist pulp mill and papermaking machine operators. They are employed by pulp and paper, and paper converting companies, sawmills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing companies.

Example job titles

  • beater operator helper - pulp and paper
  • chip bin attendant - wood processing
  • conveyor cleaner - pulp and paper
  • green wood chainman/woman - wood processing
  • grinder feeder - pulp and paper
  • labourer - pulp and paper
  • labourer - wood processing
  • lumber straightener - wood processing
  • plywood dryer feeder
  • sheeter helper - pulp and paper
  • utility man/woman - pulp and paper

Main duties

  • This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Feed logs onto conveyor and into hopper of grinding machine and align logs manually, using crowbar, picaroon or other tools and equipment
  • Load wood chips, pulpwood, sulphur and other processing materials onto conveyors or processing tanks, remove recyclable paper and pulp from pulp and papermaking machines and transport recyclable paper and pulp to plant processing machines and equipment using forklift or other powered equipment
  • Sort, pile and transport lumber, veneer sheets, panelboards and similar wood products during various stages of wood processing, manually or with powered equipment
  • Remove scrap lumber and wood chips for reprocessing using forklift or other powered equipment
  • Feed conveyors, saws, drying machines and other equipment to process lumber, shingles, veneer, plywood and similar wood products
  • Clean wood processing machines and equipment and work areas using shovels, hoses and other tools
  • Assist other wood processing workers to operate, maintain and repair various machines and equipment and carry out other wood processing activities.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is required by the pulp and paper industry and by other large employers.

Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)

Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.

Approved positions by year

2765522017201820192020202120222023202420252026
276552201720192021202320252026
Data table
20175
201827
201991
202086
202192
2022552
2023415
2024323
2025163
202619
By province or territory
  1. Quebec1,451
  2. British Columbia181
  3. Ontario80
  4. New Brunswick25
  5. Newfoundland and Labrador20
  6. Nova Scotia8
  7. Alberta8
Employers with the most positions
  1. Les Chantiers de Chibougamau Ltée136
  2. EACOM Timber Corporation116
  3. Bois BSL Inc.81
  4. Produits Matra inc58
  5. Cascades Canada ULC42
  6. Leo Mailhot Inc34
  7. Les Industries P.F. Inc.33
  8. White River Forest Products LP33
  9. Boa-Franc s.e.n.c.31
  10. BOCCAM INC.31
  11. MATÉRIAUX BLANCHET INC.31
  12. Les pliages Apaulo inc.30
  13. Freneco ltée28
  14. Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée28
  15. Carrier & Bégin inc.27
By stream
  1. Low-wage stream (TFWP)1,278
  2. High-wage stream (TFWP)495

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).

YearTFWP permitsIMP permits
20261200
20251700
20242700
20234350
20223200
20211400
2020200
2019400
2018100

All work permits by year

218435201820192020202120222023202420252026
21843520182020202220242026
Data table
201810
201940
202020
2021140
2022320
2023435
2024270
2025170
2026120

Wages

Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.

AreaLowMedianHigh
CanadaC$18.00C$24.13C$33.95
AlbertaC$20.72C$23.00C$32.00
British ColumbiaC$22.00C$32.00C$36.00
ManitobaC$17.10C$21.27C$29.16
New BrunswickC$17.00C$22.50C$27.08
Newfoundland and LabradorC$16.00C$18.21C$21.50
Nova ScotiaC$16.50C$21.00C$32.08
OntarioC$17.60C$21.00C$30.00
QuebecC$18.00C$23.35C$30.00
SaskatchewanC$17.85C$24.12C$33.53
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
436
Vacancies advertised
1,546
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$21.00