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Land-based cargo handling and carrying workers

How to become a Loading and Unloading Worker

Also called: Materials handler, Freight handler, Factory materials handler, Container handler, Truck loader, Removalist

Loads and unloads goods on trucks and containers and moves goods in and out of warehouses during transport.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but qualifications such as a driving licence, forklift operation, slinging and a crane operator licence are an advantage. People are hired by transport or warehouse companies and assigned to a workplace. Companies also hire to fill vacancies, so there are plenty of chances to get a job. At work, you build experience through guidance and training from workplace supervisors such as team leaders. You can improve your skills by taking courses for cargo handling equipment licences and qualifications, and go on to become a site supervisor or manager. Many qualifications are needed to manage warehouses properly, such as warehouse manager, who handles fire prevention and other warehouse management work; loading and unloading work director, who directly supervises loading and unloading to keep it safe; and stacking work supervisor, who directly supervises the stacking and removal of goods in warehouses, sheds and yards. To make sure goods are not damaged or lost, you need responsibility, attention, a good memory and spatial awareness.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Loading and Unloading Worker?

No particular education or qualification is required to start, but qualifications such as a driving licence, forklift operation, slinging and a crane operator licence are an advantage. People are hired by transport or warehouse companies and assigned to a workplace. Companies also hire to fill vacancies, so there are plenty of chances to get a job. At work, you build experience through guidance and training from workplace supervisors such as team leaders. You can improve your skills by taking courses for cargo handling equipment licences and qualifications, and go on to become a site supervisor or manager. Many qualifications are needed to manage warehouses properly, such as warehouse manager, who handles fire prevention and other warehouse management work; loading and unloading work director, who directly supervises loading and unloading to keep it safe; and stacking work supervisor, who directly supervises the stacking and removal of goods in warehouses, sheds and yards. To make sure goods are not damaged or lost, you need responsibility, attention, a good memory and spatial awareness.

How much does a Loading and Unloading Worker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,065,200 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Other carrying workers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Loading and Unloading Worker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 15% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Loading and Unloading Worker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026