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Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing (NOC 9231)

High opportunity occupation
Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment Workforce and employment statistics
Job requirements Work-related skills Related careers Career paths and resources
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About this job

Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing:

  • operate and monitor multi-function process control machinery and equipment to control the processing of mineral ores, metals or cement
  • work in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries
  • also work in uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries and cement processing plants
Common job titles
  • alloy control / purity control
  • bar mill finisher / billet mill
  • blast furnace / crucible
  • controller, slurry
  • furnace - vacuum / reverberatory
  • ion exchange
  • alloy control / purity control
  • bar mill finisher / billet mill
  • blast furnace / crucible
  • caster, central control
  • charger, head
  • chief flotation

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$80,296

Source: 2020 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2020 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))

Provincial hourly rate

  • High
  • Median
  • Low

Source: 2020 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2021 - 2026
  • 2026 - 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 200

  • 2022
  • 2026
  • 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
15.8%
30 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
84.2%
160 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2021:
30
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
2.3%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
20
Kootenay
Employment in 2021:
310
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
0.3%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
90
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2021:
90
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.1%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
40
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2021:
120
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
0.4%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
40
Northeast
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2021:
30
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
-0.1%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
10
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A

N/A - Data not available

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Central control and process operators (mineral and metal processing):

  • coordinate and monitor the operation of a particular aspect of mineral ore, metal and cement processing production through control panels, computer terminals or other control systems, usually from a central control room
  • operate multi-function central process control machinery to grind, separate, filter, melt, roast, treat, refine or otherwise process mineral ores
  • look at computer printouts, video monitors and gauges to verify specified processing conditions and to make necessary adjustments
  • coordinate and supervise production crew such as machine and process operators, tenders, assistants and helpers
  • start up and shut down the production system in cases of emergency or as required by schedule
  • train or organize training for members of production crew
  • maintain shift log of production and other data
  • prepare production and other reports

Work environment

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a regular controlled indoor setting.
  • Work also takes place in an inside environment where temperatures may vary.
  • The workplace many noisy enough to affect hearing.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

400 workers are employed
71% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by gender

  Men
  Women

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by age group

  15 - 24 years
  25 - 44 years
  45 - 64 years
  65+ years

Source: 2016 Census

Labour force by industry

Manufacturing:
67%
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction:
21%
Transportation and Warehousing:
4%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
4%
Construction:
2%
View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2016 Census

Career paths and resources

Career paths

With experience, central control and process operators may progress to supervisory positions in mineral and metal processing.

There is little movement among the various types of central control and process operators within the mineral and metal processing industry.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

Profile last updated:
March 25, 2021
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