Industrial Electricians (NOC 7242)

What They Do Industrial electricians perform some or all of the following duties: Read and interpret drawings, blueprints, schematics and electrical code specifications to determine layout of industrial electrical equipment installations Install, examine, replace or repair electrical wiring, receptacles, switch boxes, conduits, feeders, fibre-optic and coaxial cable assemblies, lighting fixtures and other electrical components Test electrical and electronic equipment and components for continuity, current, voltage and resistance Maintain, repair, install and test switchgear, transformers, switchboard meters, regulators and reactors Maintain, repair, test and install electrical motors, generators, alternators, industrial storage batteries and hydraulic and pneumatic electrical control systems Troubleshoot, maintain and repair industrial, electrical and electronic control systems and other related devices Conduct preventive maintenance programs and keep maintenance records May install, maintain and calibrate industrial instrumentation and related devices.

Where They Find Work —    Top Occupational Areas Construction 23% Paper manufacturing 8% Primary metal manufacturing 8% Mining (except oil and gas) 6% Transportation and warehousing 5% Wood product manufacturing 5% Motor vehicle manufacturing 4% Industrial electricians work for electrical contractors and maintenance departments of factories, plants, mines, shipyards, and other industrial establishments. The unionization rate (67%) is above the average (32%) for all occupations. The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of are found in Alberta and Prince Edward Island while the lowest concentrations are in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Related Occupation(s) Electronic Service Technicians (Household and Business Equipment) (NOC 2242) Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians (NOC 2241) Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System) (NOC 7241) Electrical Trades and Telecommunications Occupations (NOC 724)

Something to Think About To enhance your professional knowledge and broaden your opportunities, consider: Continually updating knowledge/skills Setting standards and guidelines for safety/operations

Use the "Where They Find Work" graph to target your worksearch. It may be easier to get into industries with the most people in this field. Want to work in an industry that hires fewer workers in this field? To be more marketable, check out whether you have the most up-to-date knowledge and technology skills for that industry. Check the provincial/territorial or local information (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca) for opportunities in your area.

What You Need You usually need a high school diploma. To gain trade certification, you usually need either a four- or five-year industrial electrician apprenticeship program or a combination of over five years' work experience and some high school, college or industry courses in industrial electrical equipment. Trade certification is compulsory in Prince Edward Island, Quebec and the Yukon. It is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Manitoba. According to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, these electricians in Canada require a Construction and Maintenance Licence. Qualified industrial electricians may also obtain interprovincial (Red Seal) trade certification, which provides job mobility throughout the country. With experience, you may move up the ranks to become a supervisor. Most recent entrants have a community college diploma.

Required/Related    Educational Programs* This will let you explore the program(s) of study that lead to this (these) occupation(s). Civil Engineering Technologies (C350) Engineering Technologies - Other (C370) Instrumentation (C382) Construction Technologies (T332) *  These educational programs are listed in the order in which they are most likely to supply graduates to this occupation.

Useful Experience/Skills Maintenance Construction/manufacturing Appliance repair Diagrams/blueprints Troubleshooting		Useful High School Subjects Math Physics Industrial Arts (Electricity) English Blueprint Reading
Depending on your background, this Education, Training, and Experience info will help you to: Choose your high school courses Plan your post-secondary program Choose relevant volunteer work Decide what new skills to learn Read job ads, professional journals, and newspapers for what the industry needs and employers want. Talk to employers and employees to find out the exceptional skills and knowledge that will help you land a job.

Current Conditions Your work prospects are rated FAIR because: Employement grew at an average rate. Hourly wages ($24.32) are above the averages ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is close to the average. The unemployment rate (4%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).

Work Prospects Current   Fair   2009   Fair

Outlook to 2009 Your work prospects will continue to be FAIR because: The employment growth rate will likely be close to the average. The retirement rate will likely be above average and the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.

Preparing for the Competition Your competition will likely be unemployed workers. You're more likely to succeed if you're familiar with new technologies such as robotics and automatic transfer machines.

If you are beginning your career investigation, national outlooks will give you a good overview of trends. Ready to explore an occupation in more detail? Check provincial/territorial or local outlooks (http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca).

What you can expect to make (Average Hourly Earnings ($/hour))
Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 $16.66 $11.74 25-54 $24.62 $19.76 55+ $23.63 $19.59 Overall Average for Ages (20+) This Occupation All Occupations $24.32 $18.07		Hourly wages ($24.32) are above the national averages ($18.07). These earnings are above average for occupations in the trades, transport and equipement operators sector and above average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Your salary can be affected by your background, the company's size and benefits, and the region and setting (urban or rural). Check out salaries in your own region by seeking info from: Employees/unions/associations Employers/human resource people Training institutions and placement services Company websites Professional/trade journals

Close to the average
The unemployment rate (4%) is close to the 2004 average (7%). This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations. A low unemployment rate often means less competition for the jobs available. But you still need to have the required training and experience. A high unemployment rate doesn't necessarily mean you'll have great difficulty getting hired. But it can mean a fluctuating demand for workers, and you may experience bouts of unemployment.		Year This Occupation All Occupations 1991 8% 10% 1992 9% 11% 1993 10% 11% 1994 8% 10% 1995 5% 10% 1996 6% 10% 1997 3% 9% 1998 6% 8% 1999 4% 8% 2000 3% 7% 2001 4% 7% 2002 6% 8% 2003 5% 8% 2004 4% 7%

% of Part-time work is below average
This Occupation All Occupations Full-time 99% 81% Part-time 1% 19%		There were 28,600 workers employed in these occupations in 2004, a decrease of 9% since 1997. The percentage of part-time workers (1%) is below the 2004 average (19%) and has stayed about the same since 1997.
When full-time work is difficult to find, look at alternatives such as contract work, consulting, shared positions, and telework.

Average
The percentage of self-employed workers (1%) is below the 2004 average (15%)		This Occupation All Occupations Self-Employed 1% 15%
Does this occupation have an above-average rate of self-employment? Consider being your own boss if you can't find work with an employer.

Age Group This Occupation All Occupations 20-24 3% 10% 25-54 84% 72% 55+ 13% 12%		The relatively low percentage of younger workers suggests few entry-level job openings, and could point to a greater need for workers with experience or a number of years of training. The retirement rate to 2009 will likely be above average because of a tendency to retire at an earlier-than-average age (58).
Look at the youngest group. A low percentage means fewer openings for brand-new workers. A high percentage means more openings for brand-new workers. Look at the oldest age group. A high percentage means positions could open up from retirements. This could be significant for both mid-career changers and brand-new workers.

Below average
The percentage of women (1%) is below the 2004 average of 48%.		This Occupation All Occupations Percent Women 1% 48%

This page last modified on: 2007-03-31