Overview
Labourers in mineral and metal processing perform material handling, clean-up, packaging and other elemental activities related to mineral ore and metal processing. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries, cement processing plants, clay, glass and stone processing plants and foundries.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Transport raw materials, finished products, scrap and recyclable materials throughout plant manually or using forklift or other powered equipment
Feed conveyors, crushers and other equipment; open valves and start pumps; skim dross from furnaces; sort, stack, bundle and stamp materials; and perform other activities to assist process and machine operators in mineral ore and metal processing
Clean work areas and equipment
May assist with minor repairs and maintenance.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$39,626
$54,226
$78,127
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
British Columbia
165expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Completion of secondary school may be required for some positions in this group.
Additional information
Progression to machine and process operator positions is possible with experience.
Certification requirements
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No post-secondary education required
No post-secondary education required. You can work in this career without post-secondary education. Some on the job training may be provided. With additional training or experience, you may be able to progress into higher level, supervisory or management positions.