Agricultural Products Processing Machine Operator

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Machine Operators, Food and Beverage Processing (9461.2) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Process Control and Machine Operators, Food and Beverage Processing (J171) 
• 2011 NOC: Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing (9461) 
• 2016 NOC: Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing (9461) 
• 2021 NOC: Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing (94140) 

Agricultural products processing machine operators may operate a variety of machines. The type of machines depends on the product, the methods used and the size of the business and plant.

In general, agricultural products processing machine operators:

• Operate single- and multi-function processing machines
• Observe gauges, printouts and monitors
• Adjust machines and process variables such as cooking times and temperatures as needed
• Do food-safety checks
• Clean machinery before and after use
• Maintain equipment and troubleshoot problems
• Fill out forms to document line activity
• Keep shift logs to track production data
• Prepare products for distribution
• Check product and machinery output quality

Depending on the operation, they may also:

• Set up or adjust machines for specific processes
• Package and label products for sale
• Assemble packaged products into larger lot sizes for shipping
• Record production information
• Serve customers
• Load transport trucks

Dairy plant machine operators run machines that pasteurize milk or process and package dairy products such as cheese, ice cream, butter, non-fat dry milk and condensed milk.

Fruit and vegetable processing machine operators run machines that clean, wash, sort, trim, peel and cut produce. They also may operate machines that process and package fruit and vegetable products.

Grain processing machine operators process grain into animal feed or food products such as flour, cereal, pasta, cooking oil or beer. They also may process peas, beans, chickpeas or mustard.

Working conditions vary. Much production line work is done indoors in warm, clean and well-ventilated conditions. Other work is performed in unheated packaging sheds, cold storage or freezers. Work in grain processing plants can be dusty and noisy. Work near cooking or sanitizing operations can be hot and humid. Some machine operators work beside each other in small spaces.

In plants that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, employees work in rotating shifts.

Agricultural products processing machine operators work in food and drink processing plants, such as:

• Bakeries
• Malting facilities
• Breweries
• Distilleries
• Dairies
• Flour mills
• Fruit and vegetable processing plants
• Meat plants
• Sugar refineries
• Seed plants
• Feed mills

New employees usually start as general plant help. They may rotate through the plant to get exposure to its operations. Advancing from general plant help to skilled roles requires specific on-the-job training. Employees skilled in specific processes may advance to roles such as lead hand or shift supervisor.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

In the 9461: Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing occupational group, 78.3% of people work in:

• Manufacturing

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

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Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

• Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation
• Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, the 9461: Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated products processing occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0.6% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 20 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry website: www.agric.gov.ab.ca

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website: www.inspection.gc.ca

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