male worker tending to the cabbage in the field

Livestock labourers

(NOC 85100)
Annual Earnings
$38,083
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
No Formal Education
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
390

Career Overview

Livestock labourers assist other farm workers to:

  • Raise cattle, poultry and other animals
  • Help with feeding, health and breeding programs
  • Process animal products 
  • Maintain and repair farm equipment and buildings
  • Work on livestock farms

Duties

Livestock labourers:

  • Feed and tend livestock and poultry
  • Milk cows, goats, manually or with a machine
  • Sort, brand and handle animals
  • Maintain or assist in the maintenance of facilities and farm infrastructure, including cleaning stables, barns, barnyards and pens
  • Assist with breeding activities
  • May monitor health of animals and provide care
  • May prepare animals for transportation
  • May operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$38,083

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$35.00/hr
Median$18.26/hr
Low$16.75/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

3,030

% Employed Full Time

37%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place both indoors and outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions
  • Workers use machinery, tools and heavy farm equipment, such as tractors, which can pose the risk of injury
  • Strong odours are common on a farm
  • Farmers may be exposed to chemicals, such as pesticides, and dust and sand in the workplace
  • Workers may also be exposed to infectious bacteria and viruses as a result of treating sick animal
  • Workers may be exposed to enough noise to affect hearing
  • Some machinery can cause a vibrating or back and forth motion in the body

Career Pathways

Progression to other livestock worker positions is possible with experience.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Beef cattle farm worker
Cattle ranch labourer
Dairy farm worker
Livestock labourer
Poultry farm worker

Education, Training and Skills

  • There are no specific education or training requirements 
  • Basic farm knowledge, usually obtained from working on a family farm, may be required for employment
  • A course or certificate in first aid may be required

Education programs in B.C.

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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

54%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

53%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

52%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

52%
Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

49%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

48%
Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

48%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

46%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

45%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

45%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

3,030
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 210 6.9%
Kootenay 130 4.3%
Mainland/Southwest 1,605 53.1%
North Coast and Nechako 120 4.0%
Northeast 105 3.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 480 15.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 380 12.6%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

390
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 10 -0.6%
Kootenay 0 -0.2%
Mainland/Southwest 230 0.3%
North Coast and Nechako 0 -2.1%
Northeast 10 -0.3%
Thompson-Okanagan 40 0.2%
Vancouver Island/Coast 100 1.0%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Agriculture And Fishing210
Manufacturing80
Information, Culture And Recreation50
Repair, Personal And Non-Profit Services10
Wholesale Trade10
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources