Harvesting Labourers

National Occupational Classification (NOC): 85101

Fast Facts

  • Average Pay: N/A
  • Future Growth: N/A
  • Skill Level: N/A
  • Employment Size: N/A
  • Unemployment: N/A
  • Full-time Share: N/A

Sample Job Titles

  • Apple picker
  • Fruit farm labourer
  • Field and vegetable crop labourer
  • General farm worker - harvesting
  • Harvesting labourer
  • Orchard worker
  • Organic farm worker - harvesting
  • Vegetable farm worker


What do harvesting labourers do?

Harvesting labourers and related workers assist other farm workers to plant, harvest, sort and pack crops. They participate in soil preparation, irrigation and crop planting, spraying and thinning. They are employed on fruit, vegetable and specialty crop farms.

Harvesting labourers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Prepare and irrigate soil
  • Plant, fertilize, thin and harvest crops
  • Pick row and orchard crops
  • Sort, weigh and pack fruit and vegetables at the farm
  • Load, unload and transfer crates, supplies, farm produce and products for transport
  • Clean up racks, trays, and harvest bins and general clean-up of growing, producing and packing areas
  • Assist with general farm maintenance and maintenance of equipment and tools
  • May assist in preparing garden beds for planting
  • May write daily progress reports of inventory harvested.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

 

Harvesting labourers work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:

  • 111-112   Farms

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

Short and Long Term Occupational Projections

Short Term Projections for 2025-2027

An employment outlook is unavailable for Harvesting labourers in Newfoundland and Labrador due to low levels of employment in the province.

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

 

 

Number of Job Postings in 2025

During 2025, there were 7 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:

Avalon: 0% Western: 14%
Eastern: 0% Labrador: 86%
Central: 0% NL-unspecified: 0%

Source: Vicinity Jobs (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year).



Who works as harvesting labourers in Newfoundland and Labrador?

During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 25 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 60% of those employed were Male+ and 40% of those employed were Female+.

Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:

15 to 24 25 to 54 55 to 64 65+
40% 60% 0% 0%

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

How much do harvesting labourers make?

Annual Earnings

The median employment income for all harvesting labourers  in the reference year 2020 (70 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $12,300.

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.

 

Hourly Earnings

Salary information for harvesting labourers  in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
Newfoundland and Labrador $16.00 $17.00 $21.00

 

The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
$16.00 $18.00 $25.00

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2025)

  • English language
  • Flexibility
  • Handling heavy loads
  • Standing for extended periods
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Teamwork

Source:  Vicinity Jobs

 



What training is required?

  • There are no specific education or training requirements.
  • Progression to other farm worker positions is possible with experience.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.