Trades Helpers and Labourers
NOC (National Occupational Classification)
Who am I?
Trades Helpers and Labourers (7612) assist skilled tradespersons and perform labouring activities in the installation, maintenance and repair of industrial machinery, refrigeration, heating and air conditioning equipment. They are employed by a wide variety of manufacturing, utility and service companies.
Other Titles
Plumbers Assistant
Air Conditioning Mechanic Assistant
Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanic Helper
Heating and Cooling Mechanic Helper
Helper, Oil Burner Mechanic/Technician
Refrigeration Mechanic/Technician Helper
Essential Skills
Essential Skills are not the technical skills required by particular occupations but rather the skills applied in all occupations. These skills provide the foundation for learning all other skills and apply to careers in HVACR. See Employment and Social Development Canada for more details.
The most important Essential Skills for Trade Helpers and Labourers are:
- Numeracy – Accurate measurement to order quantities of materials and may estimate cost and time for job completion
- Thinking Skills - Significant use of memory required: performing tasks that call upon greater memory use than most jobs
- Working with Others – Interacting with co-workers and as part of a team work to get the job done, including taking direction from supervisors.
What do I do?
As a Trades Helper/Labourer you may do some of the following:
- Loading and unloading materials, and moving materials to work areas
- Ordering and picking up materials for job sites
- Mixing, pouring and spreading materials such as concrete
- Assisting in aligning pipes and performing related activities during oil and gas pipeline construction
- Tending equipment used such as compressors and pumps, hoists, testing equipment
Education/Training
- Requirements for trades’ helper and labourer apprenticeship programs vary across Canada. In some provinces and territories, you must be at least 16 years old and have a Grade 9 education or equivalent to enter the program
- Trades helper and labourer apprenticeship programs vary across Canada, but generally involve at least one 12-month period, including a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training, several weeks of technical training and a final certificate exam
- Some provinces and territories offer secondary school apprenticeship programs that allow high school students to work towards a career as a Trades Helper/Labourer. See the Apprenticeship contacts in your province
- Related on-the-job experience may reduce the time required to complete your apprenticeship.