How to become a labourer in wood, pulp and paper processing
Official title: Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing
Also called: Sawmill labourer, Pulp-log recleaner, Pulp-washer helper, Wood chip unloader, Piler - wood processing, Pulp and paper labourer, Feeder - wood processing, Handler - wood treatment, Paper sorter and counter, Wood processing labourer, Labourer - pulp and paper, Paper converting labourer
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.
Main tasks
- 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
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is required by the pulp and paper industry and by other large employers.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $47,054 a year The middle half earn $39,000 to $58,422.
- About 19,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 19,700 are projected by 2033. (+2.1%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Labourers in mineral and metal processing
- Labourers in metal fabrication
- Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities
- Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing
- Labourers in textile processing and cutting
- Labourers in food and beverage processing
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Questions people ask
How do I become a labourer in wood, pulp and paper processing?
Completion of secondary school is required by the pulp and paper industry and by other large employers.
How much does a labourer in wood, pulp and paper processing earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $47,054 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $39,000 to $58,422.
Is a labourer in wood, pulp and paper processing a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2033, from about 19,300 to about 19,700 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a labourer in wood, pulp and paper processing?
Usually not. Only 3% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03