Job prospects Metalworking Machine Operator in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "metalworking machine operator" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be Moderate for metalworking and forging machine operators (NOC 94105) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

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

Some physical duties of this occupation could be performed by automation technologies, which may enable workers to do their jobs more efficiently. 

The adoption of new technologies such as robotics (including autonomous vehicles, drones, sensors) integrated with digital innovations are expected to bolster industries including construction, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and trade.

Here are some key facts about metalworking and forging machine operators in British Columbia:

• Approximately 850 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
• Metalworking and forging machine operators mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing (NAICS 332): 35%
  • Primary metal manufacturing (NAICS 331): 15%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 14%
  • Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333): 8%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 8%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 94% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 6% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 72% of metalworking and forging machine operators work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of metalworking and forging machine operators are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 23% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 42% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 22% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 7% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 6% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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