Chain saw and skidder operators

NOC

84110

use chain saws to fell, delimb and cut trees to length, and operate skidders to move felled trees to landing areas for processing and transportation.

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Full NOC Description

Chain saw and skidder operators operate chain saws to fell, delimb and buck trees, and operate skidders to move or yard the felled trees from the logging site to the landing area for processing and transportation. They are employed by logging companies and contractors.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Operate chain saw to fell, delimb and buck trees at the logging site and loading area

Operate cable, or grapple skidder to move or yard the felled trees from the logging site to the landing area for processing and transportation

Assess site, terrain and weather conditions before felling and yarding trees

May work as member of a team rotating between chain saw operation and skidder operation

May maintain and perform minor repairs on skidders, chain saws and other equipment.

Also Known As

bucker
chain saw operator - logging
faller
feller
forest worker - logging

grapple skidder operator

landingman/woman

pieceworker - logging

skidder operator

Requirements

Employment Requirements

Completion of secondary school may be required.

Completion of a college program for forest workers may be required.

Formal training in chain saw operation and maintenance and several months of on-the-job training are usually provided.

Previous experience as a logging and forestry labourer or logging machine operator may be required. Experience requirements vary depending on the type and location of woodlands operations.

Provincial certification or a forest worker program certificate is required in some provinces.

Trade certification for fallers is available, but voluntary in Quebec.

Workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) and first aid certificates may be required.

Provincial Regulation

Not Provincially Regulated

Employment by Sex

The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

Data legend

1.7%

Female

98.3%

Male

Employment by age

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

Data legend

12.1%

15-24

17.2%

25-34

12.1%

35-44

19.0%

45-54

27.6%

55-64

12.1%

65+

Employment by highest level of education

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

Data legend

36.8%

No Certificate, Diploma or Degree

47.4%

High School, Diploma or Equivalent

8.8%

Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma

7.0%

College or University Below Bachelor Level

0.0%

University - Bachelor Level or Above

Employment by Industry

The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

Data legend

72.4%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

10.3%

Manufacturing

N/A

17.2%

All Other Industries

Employment by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

Data legend

29.80%

Northeast

15.80%

Southeast

21.10%

Southwest

10.50%

Central

22.80%

Northwest

Economic Regions

The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

No Data Available

Data legend

No Data Available

Economic Regions

Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

Salary

The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

Employment Outlook

The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

Occupational Profiles