Job prospects Forklift Truck Operator in Alberta

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "forklift truck operator" in Alberta or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Alberta

The recent trends from the past 3 years were updated on July 25, 2025. The job outlooks over the next 3 years were updated on December 10, 2025.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be Moderate for material handlers (NOC 75101) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Fulfillment centres and warehouses near urban areas have brought down delivery costs and times, leading to a demand for workers in this occupation. It is unlikely that the trend will reverse in the near term.
• A growing number of distribution centres across the province should improve economic activity, thereby raising the demand for material handling services across supply chains.

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Here are some key facts about material handlers in Alberta:

• Approximately 29,100 people work in this occupation.
• Material handlers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 20%
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 19%
  • Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 14%
  • Truck transportation (NAICS 484): 7%
  • Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 86% compared to 80% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 14% compared to 20% for all occupations
• 59% of material handlers work all year, while 41% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of material handlers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 81% compared to 53% for all occupations
  • Women: 19% compared to 47% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 17% compared to 10% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 47% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 12% compared to 19% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 12% compared to 21% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Alberta by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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