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Industry Profile - Agricultural Implement Manufacturing

Introduction

The JobStart/Future Skills Sector Partnerships Program of Saskatchewan Learning enabled a sector study of the agricultural implement manufacturing industry in Saskatchewan. This industry profile is based on that study, published in 2000.

The agricultural implement manufacturing industry established a partnership of industry members and key stakeholders through funding and support from the Sector Partnerships Program. These partners worked together to carry out a study that identified current and future hiring needs and training requirements.

Strategic planning enables industry and training providers to work together to provide training opportunities that match the skills the industry requires.

For more information about the Sector Partnership Report and this industry visit the Executive Summary . You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file.

Saskatchewan Overview
Saskatchewan Trends
Related Jobs
Where the Jobs Are
Skills and Training
The Future
Related Information

Saskatchewan Overview

The Saskatchewan agricultural implement manufacturing industry includes about 100 manufacturers with 6,000 employees.
Based on 1998 figures, the industry makes annual sales of $600 million.
Over the last forty years, the industry has evolved from small, family-run companies to a larger, more sophisticated industry.
The industry manufactures tillage and seeding, storage, grain handling and spraying and application products. It also creates truck boxes, trailers, transports, accessories and other products.
The peak production time for many companies is the spring season. But many companies now have year-round production schedules.
The industry tends to be cyclical in nature, influenced by the fortunes of the agricultural industry as a whole.

Kinds of employers

Employers include family-owned and larger businesses competing in the following business areas: tillage and seeding, storage, grain handling, sprayers and application, truck boxes, trailers, transports and accessories, livestock handling and feeding, and harvesting, among others.

Who works in the industry?

The industry has a relatively young workforce. Almost two-thirds of workers are between the ages of 16 and 34.
In general, workers in the industry have above-average levels of education. Sixteen percent of workers have a post-secondary certificate or diploma.

Saskatchewan Trends

In the late 1990s, there was a slowdown in the industry due to prices for agricultural products and the Asian economic meltdown. But companies surveyed in 1999 expected some growth in employment to follow.

Some job growth is expected for welders, machine operators, labourers, painters, salespeople and front-line supervisors.

There is also a skill shortage of specialized workers such as welders, computer-controlled equipment operators and painters.

Computer technology and the increasing use of plastics and powder coating are influencing the kind of training workers need.

In the past, the industry relied on the farm workforce to work over the winter months. The industry now operates largely on a year-round basis. A shrinking rural population has created hiring challenges for rural companies.

Related Jobs

The following list provides an idea of some of the jobs in the agricultural implement manufacturing area.

Where there is a relevant occupational description in Saskatchewan Job Futures, you can click on the job to go directly to that description. You’ll learn more about the occupation, including education and training requirements, work duties, wage information and employment trends.

National Occupational Classification (NOC) numbers follow the job title. You can use the NOC numbers to look up the occupations in the NOC.

Production line welder (951)
Labourer (961)
Mechanic (7311)
Shipper/receiver (147)
Sales representative (641)
Engineer (214)
Machinist (7231)
Custom fabricator (726)

Machine operator (951)
Painter (949)
Forklift operator (745)
Assembler (948)
Front-line supervisor (922)
Senior manager (091)

Other related jobs include: research and development, drafting technician, electrician, gas fitter, mechanical technologist, plumber, buyer/purchaser, marketing manager, accountant and clerical staff.

Where the Jobs Are

Companies are located in both rural and urban locations. Of companies surveyed in 1999, 37% were in the urban communities of Saskatoon, Regina, Swift Current and Yorkton.

Skills and Training

Relevant training for many of the jobs found in the agricultural implement manufacturing industry is offered at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) and/or regional colleges.

Want to find out what kind of related education and training programs are offered in Saskatchewan? Check into What to Study? to find out what’s available and where.

Skills and knowledge that workers in the industry need include:

Production line welders