Warehouse and factory worker jobs in Canada provide a practical employment opportunity for people looking for entry-level work that does not necessarily require a university degree or years of professional experience. Canada’s manufacturing, food production, packaging, logistics, distribution, retail and industrial sectors depend on workers who can move products, package finished goods, prepare orders, assist production teams, clean work areas and perform other essential duties. These roles exist across provinces such as Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, giving applicants a wide range of locations to consider.
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One of the biggest attractions of factory work is the relatively low barrier to entry. Canada’s official Job Bank classifies many factory labourer positions under NOC 95109 – Other Labourers In Processing, Manufacturing And Utilities. Job Bank states that workers in this occupational group perform material handling, packaging, cleaning and other basic activities in processing and manufacturing environments. The occupation typically involves on-the-job training, short-term work experience and no formal educational requirement. The current national median wage for this occupational group is approximately CAD $20 per hour.
Employment opportunities are also available across the country. As of August 2026, Canada’s Job Bank showed more than 250 advertised factory labourer-manufacturing vacancies under NOC 95109. Quebec accounted for a particularly large share of these vacancies, while opportunities were also listed in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Yukon. Current Job Bank advertisements include factory labourer positions paying approximately CAD $17.60 to more than CAD $27 per hour depending on employer and location.
International applicants should understand that finding a Canadian warehouse or factory vacancy is different from finding a position that can support a Canadian work permit. Many warehouse and manufacturing employers recruit only people who already have the legal right to work in Canada. However, some Canadian businesses recruit foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and obtain or apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment, commonly known as an LMIA. Current Job Bank listings include factory labourer positions specifically marked LMIA requested, demonstrating that foreign-worker recruitment does occur within the manufacturing sector.
For example, Job Bank listings published during 2026 included LMIA-requested factory labourer-manufacturing positions in Quebec and New Brunswick, with advertised wages including approximately CAD $20, CAD $21.37 and CAD $26.25 per hour. These examples show why applicants outside Canada should focus specifically on employers recruiting internationally rather than sending applications to every warehouse or manufacturing vacancy they find.
Canada’s Job Bank also operates a dedicated search service for applicants living outside Canada. Job Bank advises foreign candidates who do not already have Canadian work authorization to apply specifically to jobs identified as being open to international candidates. This allows overseas applicants to reduce wasted applications and concentrate on employers actually prepared to consider foreign workers.
Types Of Visa Sponsorships Available For Factory Worker Jobs In Canada
Employer-Specific Work Permit With LMIA
An employer-specific work permit is one of the most important Canadian work authorization routes for international applicants seeking warehouse or factory employment.
This type of work permit allows a foreign worker to work in Canada according to conditions listed on the permit. These conditions can identify the specific employer, occupation and location where the employee is allowed to work.
For many warehouse and factory positions, the Canadian employer will require a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment before the worker can apply for the employer-specific work permit.
The employer completes the LMIA process rather than the foreign worker.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada explains that most employer-specific positions require an LMIA unless an exemption applies. Before the worker applies for the work permit, the employer needs to determine whether an LMIA is required and complete the application where necessary.
A positive LMIA demonstrates that there is a genuine need for a foreign worker to fill the position under the applicable labour-market assessment.
Once the employer receives the required approval, the worker receives employment documentation that can be used when submitting the Canadian work-permit application.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program allows Canadian employers to recruit workers from overseas when they meet the applicable requirements and cannot adequately meet their workforce needs locally.
Warehouse, production and factory jobs can potentially be recruited through this system where the employer satisfies the LMIA requirements.
Current Job Bank advertisements provide real examples.
A 2026 factory labourer-manufacturing position in Piedmont, Quebec advertised at approximately CAD $26.25 per hour was marked LMIA requested. Another position in Edmundston, New Brunswick paying approximately CAD $20 per hour was also marked LMIA requested. A Quebec manufacturing position paying approximately CAD $21.37 per hour was similarly advertised with an LMIA request.
These examples demonstrate that manufacturing employers can recruit through Canada’s foreign-worker system.
Applicants should nevertheless remember that LMIA requested means the employer has submitted or is pursuing the process. It does not mean the government has already approved the LMIA.
A position marked LMIA approved provides stronger evidence that the employer has already received a positive decision for the relevant foreign-worker recruitment.
LMIA-Exempt Employer-Specific Work Permit
Not every Canadian foreign worker needs an LMIA.
Canada’s International Mobility Program contains several categories allowing qualifying foreign nationals to obtain employer-specific work permits without an LMIA.
Examples include certain French-speaking workers employed outside Quebec, qualifying workers covered by free trade agreements and some International Experience Canada participants.
However, simply receiving a warehouse or factory job offer does not make someone LMIA-exempt.
The applicant must independently qualify under the applicable exemption.
If the position is legitimately LMIA-exempt, the employer generally submits the offer of employment through Canada’s Employer Portal and provides the worker with an offer-of-employment number needed for the work-permit application.
Open Work Permit
Canada also issues open work permits to certain qualifying foreign nationals.
Unlike an employer-specific permit, an open work permit is not tied to one particular employer.
Eligible people can include certain spouses or partners, post-graduation work permit holders, some permanent-residence applicants, qualifying International Experience Canada Working Holiday participants and people in other specified immigration situations.
An overseas applicant cannot simply choose to apply for an open work permit because they want a warehouse job.
Eligibility depends on the person’s immigration circumstances.
Applicants who already possess a valid Canadian open work permit can generally apply for warehouse and factory positions without requiring an individual employer to complete the LMIA process, subject to any restrictions on their permit.
Eligibility Information
Many factory labourer jobs in Canada have relatively simple employment requirements.
Canada’s official Job Bank states that factory labourers under NOC 95109 generally receive on-the-job training and that the occupation normally requires no formal education.
This makes the occupation accessible to applicants who do not possess university degrees.
Previous experience is also not required by every employer.
Some companies recruit entry-level workers and provide instructions after employment begins.
However, an employer can still require experience for an individual vacancy. Applicants should therefore read the job advertisement carefully instead of assuming every factory position is automatically no-experience-needed.
Warehouse positions can include material handling, order preparation, packaging, shipping and receiving, inventory movement and general warehouse assistance.
Factory labourers can be responsible for material handling, packaging products, assisting machine operators, cleaning production areas and carrying out other basic manufacturing duties.
Physical fitness is important.
Employees can spend significant portions of their shift standing, walking or moving products.
Some positions require repeated lifting, pushing, pulling or carrying.
Applicants should therefore consider whether they can safely perform the physical responsibilities stated in the job advertisement.
Shift flexibility is also valuable because factories and warehouses can operate during daytime, evenings, nights and weekends.
Large distribution centres and manufacturing facilities can operate 24 hours per day.
Applicants prepared to work different shifts can therefore have access to a wider selection of vacancies.
English or French communication ability is useful because workers need to understand safety instructions, workplace procedures, labels, schedules and directions from supervisors.
Quebec workplaces can particularly favour French-language ability depending on the position and employer.
For an international applicant, ordinary job eligibility is only one part of the process.
The worker also needs legal authorization to work in Canada.
Canada’s Job Bank specifically advises applicants outside Canada to identify vacancies open to international candidates rather than applying to positions restricted to Canadian citizens, permanent residents or existing work permit holders.
Job Bank clearly marks advertisements where international applicants can apply.
The employer also needs to complete the necessary foreign-worker requirements when the overseas applicant requires an employer-specific work permit.
For LMIA-required positions, the worker normally needs a positive LMIA from the employer, an employment contract and a job offer letter as part of the process.
The job offer letter normally explains important information including wages, deductions, duties and working hours.
Applicants should ensure that these details match what they were promised during recruitment.
Typical Factory Worker Earnings In Canada
Canada’s national wage data currently places the median wage for factory labourers in manufacturing at approximately CAD $20 per hour.
Actual salaries differ by province, employer and type of manufacturing work.
Recent Job Bank postings demonstrate this range.
| Employment Information | Approximate Amount |
| National Median Factory Labourer Wage | CAD $20 Per Hour |
| Example Ontario Factory Vacancy | CAD $17.60 Per Hour |
| Example Ontario Factory Vacancy | CAD $22 Per Hour |
| Example Quebec Factory Vacancy | CAD $24.65 Per Hour |
| Example Quebec Factory Vacancy | CAD $25.38 Per Hour |
| Example LMIA-Requested Quebec Vacancy | CAD $26.25 Per Hour |
| Example LMIA-Requested New Brunswick Vacancy | CAD $20 Per Hour |
| Formal University Degree Normally Required | No |
| On-The-Job Training | Common |
Current Job Bank advertisements include factory positions paying approximately CAD $17.60 per hour in St. Catharines, Ontario; CAD $22 per hour in St. Marys, Ontario; CAD $24.65 per hour in Warwick, Quebec; and CAD $25.38 per hour in Wickham, Quebec.
At the national median of CAD $20 per hour, a worker completing 40 hours per week would earn approximately CAD $800 gross per week.
That equals approximately CAD $3,467 gross per month when averaged across the year and about CAD $41,600 gross annually.
Actual take-home income will be lower after applicable taxes and deductions.
Step-By-Step Guide On How To Apply
- Choose The Type Of Job You Want. Decide whether you want to target warehouse work, manufacturing, food production, packaging, material handling or general factory labour. Searching with several related job titles will provide more opportunities than searching only for “factory worker.”
- Prepare A Canadian-Style Resume. Your resume should clearly show your name, contact information, current location and employment history. If you genuinely have no factory experience, highlight transferable experience involving physical work, cleaning, packaging, retail stock handling, logistics, agriculture, hospitality or other practical employment. Do not invent experience.
- Search For Jobs Open To International Candidates. Applicants outside Canada should use Job Bank’s foreign-candidate search rather than applying indiscriminately to ordinary domestic vacancies. Job Bank specifically identifies advertisements where employers are recruiting international candidates.
- Search Using Several Job Titles. Useful search terms include Factory Labourer, Manufacturing Labourer, Production Worker, Warehouse Worker, Material Handler, Packaging Worker, Factory Helper, General Labourer and Production Helper. The exact occupation classification will depend on the actual duties.
- Look For LMIA Information. When searching for employer-supported opportunities, give particular attention to advertisements marked LMIA requested or LMIA approved. Current 2026 Job Bank listings confirm that manufacturing employers are using the LMIA process for factory labourer recruitment.
- Read The Entire Job Advertisement. Check the employer’s name, location, hourly wage, weekly hours, duties, educational requirements and who is allowed to apply.
- Check The “Who Can Apply” Section. This section is extremely important for overseas applicants. Job Bank distinguishes jobs open to international candidates from those restricted to people already authorised to work in Canada.
- Apply According To The Employer’s Instructions. Submit your application through the method stated in the verified advertisement. Some Job Bank positions support Direct Apply, while others instruct applicants to contact the employer through a specified application channel.
- Disclose Your Immigration Situation Truthfully. If you are outside Canada and require an employer-supported work permit, do not claim that you already have unrestricted Canadian work authorization.
- Prepare For The Employer Interview. Employers can ask about your ability to perform physical work, shift availability, reliability, teamwork and willingness to relocate. Overseas applicants can be interviewed by telephone or video.
- Receive A Written Employment Offer. If the employer selects you, request and carefully review the written employment information. The document should clearly explain your position, salary, working hours and employment conditions.
- Allow The Employer To Complete The LMIA Process. Where the position requires an LMIA, the Canadian employer completes this process. The foreign worker does not independently obtain an LMIA and then use it to work for any company.
- Receive The Positive LMIA Documents. If the employer receives a positive LMIA, it provides you with the relevant documentation required for your work-permit application. Canada’s immigration guidance identifies the positive LMIA, employment contract and job offer letter among the documents needed for LMIA-required employer-specific work permits.
- Apply For Your Employer-Specific Work Permit. Submit the work-permit application according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s instructions for applicants outside Canada. Your permit will normally identify the employer, occupation or location conditions associated with your employment.
- Submit Your Supporting Documents. Provide your passport and employment documentation along with any additional documents requested for your immigration application.
- Complete Health Or Character Requirements Where Required. Depending on your circumstances, Canada can request additional medical, biometric, police or other immigration documentation.
- Wait For Your Work-Permit Decision. Receiving a job offer or LMIA does not itself authorise you to work in Canada. You need the required work authorization before starting employment.
- Confirm Your Employment Before Travelling. Once approved, confirm your start date, work location, accommodation plans and other arrangements with the employer.
- Travel To Canada And Start Your Job. Enter Canada according to your immigration authorization and follow the conditions attached to your employer-specific work permit.
- Keep Your Employment Records. Keep copies of your employment contract, pay records and immigration documents throughout your employment in Canada.
FAQs
Can I Get A Factory Job In Canada Without Experience?
Yes. Canada’s Job Bank states that factory labourer-manufacturing positions under NOC 95109 generally involve on-the-job training, short-term work experience and no formal educational requirement. Individual employers can nevertheless establish their own experience requirements.
Are Factory Jobs Available In Canada In 2026?
Yes. Canada’s Job Bank showed more than 250 factory labourer-manufacturing vacancies across the country in August 2026.
Can Foreigners Apply For Warehouse And Factory Jobs In Canada?
Yes. Foreign candidates can apply for positions where employers accept international applicants and the worker qualifies for the necessary work authorization. Canada’s Job Bank provides a dedicated search specifically for employers recruiting foreign candidates from outside Canada.
Do Canadian Factory Employers Offer LMIA Support?
Some do. Current 2026 Job Bank listings include several factory labourer-manufacturing jobs explicitly marked LMIA requested.
What Does LMIA Requested Mean?
It means the employer has requested or is pursuing a Labour Market Impact Assessment for the position. It does not mean that the application has already been approved.
What Does A Positive LMIA Mean?
Canada’s immigration authorities explain that a positive LMIA demonstrates a need for a foreign worker for the job under the applicable labour-market assessment.
How Much Do Factory Workers Earn In Canada?
Canada’s Job Bank currently reports a national median wage of approximately CAD $20 per hour for factory labourers in manufacturing. Actual wages vary considerably by location and employer.
Can Factory Workers Earn More Than CAD $25 Per Hour?
Yes. Recent Job Bank advertisements include manufacturing labourer positions paying more than CAD $25 per hour, including a Quebec position advertised at CAD $25.38 and an LMIA-requested position at CAD $26.25 per hour.
Do I Need A University Degree?
No. Job Bank states that factory labourers under NOC 95109 normally require no formal education.
Do I Need IELTS For A Factory Job?
The job itself does not automatically require IELTS simply because it is factory work. Language and immigration requirements depend on the work-permit or immigration program being used. Employers can also require sufficient English or French ability for workplace safety and communication.
Can Nigerians Apply?
Yes. Nigerian candidates can apply to Canadian employers recruiting internationally when they satisfy the job and work-permit requirements.
Can Applicants From Ghana, Kenya, India Or The Philippines Apply?
Yes. Applicants from these countries can pursue legitimate Canadian employment opportunities where the employer accepts international candidates and the worker meets Canada’s immigration requirements.
Can I Apply From Outside Canada?
Yes. Canada’s Job Bank maintains a dedicated foreign-candidate service for applicants outside Canada and advises them to apply specifically to jobs clearly marked as open to international applicants.
What Documents Does The Employer Give Me?
For an LMIA-required employer-specific work permit, Canada’s immigration guidance identifies documents including the positive LMIA, employment contract and job offer letter.
Can I Buy An LMIA?
An LMIA is part of the Canadian employer’s formal application process. Applicants should avoid anyone offering to sell independent LMIA documents disconnected from a genuine employer and verified position.
Can A Job Offer Guarantee My Work Permit?
No. A legitimate job offer supports the application, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ultimately decides whether a work permit will be approved.
Can I Work For Any Company After Receiving An Employer-Specific Work Permit?
Not automatically. An employer-specific work permit contains conditions that can identify the employer, occupation and location where you are authorised to work.
Are Open Work Permits Available?
Yes, but only to people who qualify under specific immigration categories. Examples include some spouses, post-graduation work permit holders, permanent-residence applicants and Working Holiday participants.
Which Province Has Factory Jobs?
Current Job Bank data shows factory labourer vacancies across Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Yukon.
Is Quebec Good For Factory Jobs?
Quebec currently accounts for a large share of factory labourer-manufacturing vacancies listed on Job Bank. In the August 2026 snapshot, 166 of 254 advertised positions were located in Quebec. Applicants should remember that French-language ability can be important for many Quebec workplaces.
Are Warehouse Jobs Physically Demanding?
Many are. Workers can spend extended periods standing, walking, loading products, moving inventory, packaging goods and performing repetitive tasks. Applicants should review the physical requirements stated in each vacancy.
How Can I Avoid Fake Canada Factory Job Offers?
Use verified employers and recognised job-search channels, check whether overseas applicants are actually permitted to apply, and ensure the employment documents identify a real company and position. Be cautious when someone promises guaranteed immigration approval in exchange for large payments.
Final Thoughts
Warehouse and factory worker jobs in Canada provide accessible employment opportunities for people without university degrees, and many positions include on-the-job training. Canada’s Job Bank currently places the national median wage for factory labourers at approximately CAD $20 per hour and continues to list hundreds of manufacturing vacancies nationwide.
Foreign applicants who require employer support should focus specifically on vacancies open to international candidates and employers using the LMIA process. Current 2026 Job Bank listings confirm that LMIA-requested factory jobs exist.
The best approach is to prepare a professional resume, search verified international vacancies, apply directly to genuine employers and complete the official Canadian employer-specific work-permit process after securing qualifying employment.