Metalworking and forging machine operators
Career Overview
Light metalworking machine operators:
- Operate metalworking machines which shape and form sheet or other light metal into parts or products
- Work for sheet metal products manufacturing companies, sheet metal shops and other light metal products manufacturing establishments
Heavy metalworking machine operators:
- Operate metalworking machines which shape and form steel or other heavy metal into parts or products
- Work for structural steel fabrication, boiler and platework manufacturing companies, heavy machinery manufacturing companies and in the shipbuilding industry
Forging machine operators operate:
- Forging machines to form and shape metal into various shapes and sizes and impart desired strength, hardness or other characteristics
- Work primarily in the fabricated metal products, machinery and transportation equipment manufacturing industries
Job Titles
Duties
Metalworking and forging machine operators:
- Read specifications or follow verbal instructions
- Lay out, set up and operate one or more light or heavy metalworking machines such as shears, power presses, saws, plate rolls, drills, brakes, slitters, punch presses, computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment, and other hand tools to cut, bend, roll, ream, punch and drill, weld or otherwise shape and form metal stock into parts or products
- Operate machines or equipment which weld, solder, bolt, screw or rivet metal parts together
- Check products for correct shapes, dimensions and other specifications
- Troubleshoot and perform corrective action or minor repairs
- May select and transport material to work area manually or using crane or hoist
- May document work completed
- May build staging or erect scaffolding as required for heavy metalworking jobs
- May clean or lubricate equipment and replace parts as required
Forging machine operators:
- Position and adjust dies on anvil of forging machinery using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices and hand tools
- Operate presses or other forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, twisting, forming, drawing, upsetting, splitting, cutting, punching, piercing, bending, coining, or other operations to shape or form metal
- Position heated or cold metal pieces, on die of press or other forging machinery
- Place metal pieces in furnace using hand tongs or overhead cranes and remove from furnace when colour of metal indicates proper forging temperature, or load and unload furnace with automatic conveyor
- Operate gas or oil fired furnaces to heat metal to proper temperature prior to forging
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.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
765% Employed Full Time
71%Key aspects of work in this occupation:
- Machine operators in this unit group usually work in a conventional controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school
- This work produces enough noise to cause loss of hearing
- Work is done with equipment, machinery or power/hand tools that could cause an injury
- Workers are exposed to small pieces of flying material and falling objects that could cause injury
Career Pathways
There is little or no mobility between operators of light and heavy metalworking machines.
Progression to structural metal fabricator or supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school education may be required
- Previous experience as a labourer or helper in the same company may be required
- On-the-job training is usually provided
Trades training resources
Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Top 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!
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
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
765Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 45 | 5.9% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 515 | 67.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 1.3% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 95 | 12.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 90 | 11.8% |
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 (2024-2034)
290Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | -0.9% |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 200 | 1.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 60 | 2.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | 0.4% |
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
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 210 |
| Wholesale Trade | 50 |
| Construction | 30 |
| Retail Trade | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.