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Retail Shelf Stocker

Retail shelf stockers unpack and price merchandise and stock shelves and displays. They may pack customers’ purchases.

Also Known As

Courtesy Clerk, Food Store Clerk, Grocery Clerk, Overnight Stocker, Shelf Stocker, Store Clerk, Supermarket Clerk

NOC Codes

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

  • 6622: Grocery Clerks and Store Shelf Stockers

2006 NOC-S

  • G972: Grocery Clerks and Store Shelf Stockers

2011 NOC

  • 6622: Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers

2016 NOC

  • 6622: Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers

2021 NOC

  • 65102: Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers

2023 OaSIS

  • 65102.00: Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Shelf stockers work in a wide variety of retail outlets. Their duties vary somewhat depending on the size and type of store. In general, they:

  • Receive and unpack products received by stores; they may also count, weigh, or sort items
  • Check shipping and purchasing documents to ensure the proper items and amount have been received and items have not been damaged or spoiled
  • Stock shelves, racks, and display areas with merchandise and store extra items in stockrooms
  • Regularly check shelves and displays to ensure they are well-stocked and attractively organized, and merchandise is properly rotated and protected from damage
  • Obtain articles for customers from display locations or from the stockroom
  • Direct customers to desired items and anticipate customer needs as much as possible
  • Report out-of-stock situations to management and correct or report any pricing discrepancies
  • Clean up broken items and other messes
  • Sweep aisles, dust display racks, and perform other general cleaning duties

Those who work in grocery stores also may:

  • Maintain displays of perishable items, such as produce or dairy products, by rotating items to keep the freshest in the back or on the bottom
  • Bag or box purchases for customers
  • Carry or use carts to carry customers’ purchases out to the parking lot and help customers pack groceries into their vehicles

Those who work in other large retail outlets may:

  • Use bar code scanning equipment to record incoming stock, verify pricing, and maintain a computerized stock inventory
  • Attach protective devices to merchandise to protect against shoplifting

Those who work in smaller stores may:

  • Use a stamp or stickers to price items according to price lists
  • Sweep or shovel snow from the sidewalk in front of the store
  • Act as cashiers or salespersons (for more information, see the Cashier and Retail Salesperson occupational profiles)
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Strength Required Lift over 20 kg

Hours of work vary in this occupation. Some grocery shelf stockers work in the middle of the night when few or no customers visit the store. Weekend work is common.

Shelf stockers spend most of their time on their feet. They routinely bend and lift heavy items. Working conditions generally are pleasant, although stockrooms may be dusty. Some stores require shelf stockers to wear uniforms or personal safety equipment such as steel-toed shoes.

Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Grocery Clerks and Store Shelf Stockers

2006 NOC: 6622

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
METHODICAL

Interest in comparing to check, count, weigh and sort items received by store; to use optical scanning equipment to record incoming stock, verify pricing and maintain a computerized stock inventory; to price merchandise according to price lists; to fill mail orders from warehouse stock; and to obtain articles for customers from shelves and stockrooms

social

Interest in serving - assisting by directing customers to the location of articles

objective

Interest in handling merchandise to stock shelves and display areas, and to keep stock clean and in order; may sweep aisles, dust display racks and perform other general cleaning duties; may operate cash register and computer for electronic commerce transactions

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 

It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

A Quick Guide

You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Learn About Abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Shelf stockers need:

  • Honesty
  • Physical strength and stamina to lift heavy boxes and work long hours on their feet
  • Coordination and manual dexterity
  • Self-motivation
  • Organizational and interpersonal skills
  • Spatial awareness

They should enjoy having clear rules and organized methods for their work. They should be at ease serving and helping customers. They should like handling merchandise.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers

2016 NOC: 6622

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 100 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Feb 29, 2024 and Mar 28, 2024.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Keep stock clean and in order
Tasks: Unpack products received by store and count, weigh or sort items
Tasks: Stock shelves and display areas
Tasks: Bag, box or parcel purchases for customers, for shipment or delivery
Tasks: Perform general cleaning duties (i.e. sweeping, mopping floors)
Tasks: Price items using stamp or stickers according to price list
Tasks: Obtain articles for customers from shelf or stockroom
Tasks: Record incoming stock
Tasks: Provide customer service
Tasks: Direct customers to location of articles sought
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Minimum Education Varies

Shelf stockers train on the job. Employers often hire students for part-time positions. In general, they prefer high school graduates for full-time jobs. Some positions require stockers to have forklift training.

To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Certification Not Regulated

There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Most shelf stockers work in grocery and department stores. Some work in drug stores or hardware stores. Others work in specialty shops such as large bookstores or shoe stores. Employment in some stores may require joining a union.

Students often are hired for part-time evening and weekend positions. They may also work temporary positions during busy periods, such as the Christmas season. Those who do well in this entry-level position may advance to other, more responsible positions.

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 6622: Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers occupational group, 89.6% of people work in:

Employment Outlook

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

  • 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 6622: Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.5% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 330 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.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Hourly wages for shelf stockers vary a great deal. Pay depends on the employer and the worker’s experience and responsibilities.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers

2016 NOC: 6622
Average Wage
$17.32
Per Hour
Average Salary
$24,366.00
Per Year
Average Hours
27.4
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
11.9
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 6622 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $15.00 $16.00 $15.04 $15.00
Overall $15.00 $19.93 $17.32 $17.00
Top $15.00 $38.46 $22.82 $21.38

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Retail Trade
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
73%
73%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
20%
20%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
12%
12%
Vacancy Rate
2%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Personal and Food Services
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Retail Council of Canada website: www.retailcouncil.org

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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