Job prospects Material Handler in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "material handler" 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 moderate for Material handlers (NOC 75101) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Employed by all major industries, but the leading shares are in manufacturing, warehousing, and retail trade sectors
• Wholesale trade is another key employer

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The volume of goods requiring handling services is expected to be relatively steady
• Investments in manufacturing
• Expansions in warehousing facilities; however the use of automated storage and retrieval systems may alter some of the roles of material handlers

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Forklift operator certification is required for some roles.

Here are some key facts about Material handlers in Ontario:

• Approximately 89,050 people work in this occupation.
• Material handlers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 28%
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 15%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 9%
  • Motor vehicle, body, trailer and parts manufacturing (NAICS 3361-3363): 6%
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 6%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 87% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 13% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 57% of material handlers work all year, while 42% 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 41 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of material handlers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 79% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 21% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 17% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 46% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 15% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 12% 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 a "material handler" Material handlers (NOC 75101) or across Canada.

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