职业描述：Central Control and Process Operators in Manufacturing (923)

Central Control and Process Operators in Manufacturing and Processing (923)

At Work
These operators work in copper, lead, zinc and precious metal refineries, uranium and cement processing and aluminium plants, steel mills, and petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline, petrochemical, industrial, agricultural, specialty chemical, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper companies, and other plants.
Central control and process operators process mineral ores, metals and cement.
Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators run and monitor petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants, and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment.
Pulping control operators control the processing of wood, scrap pulp and other cellulose materials to produce pulp.
This occupational group also includes cement manufacturing console operators, beater engineers, pulp and paper cooks and back tenders.

Education, Training and Experience
These operators usually require a high school diploma. Many recent entrants have a trade/vocational or community college diploma.

Most need formal company training, on-the-job training and several years' experience as machine or process operators in the same company or department.
Some may require an industrial first-aid certificate.
Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators may need a college diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject and various certificates and licences.
Pulping control operators may require a college or other program in forest products processing or a related subject.

About these Occupations
19,000 persons were employed in these occupations in 1996, down 6.9% from 1986. Over the same period, employment in all occupations grew by 13.1%.

59% of these workers are petroleum, gas and chemical process operators; 33% are papermaking and coating control operators.
3% of these operators work part-time, well below the average of 19% for all occupations.
4% of these workers are self-employed, well below the average of 16% for all occupations.
Women are 14% of workers in these occupations, well below the average of 45% for all occupations.
The unemployment rate for these occupations averaged 6% from 1994 to 1996, compared to an average of 6.7% for all occupations. These rates are among the lowest for occupations in processing, manufacturing and utilities.
Average earnings of year-round, full-time workers in these occupations in 1995 were $42,300, well above the average of $35,700 for all occupations. These earnings are among the highest for technical, paraprofessional and skilled occupations and for occupations in processing, manufacturing and utilities.
Employment in these occupations is not very sensitive to overall economic conditions and not seasonal.

Full-Time Earnings

1995 Full-Time Earnings*
$61,900 Highest
$42,300 Average
$24,600 Lowest

* Full-time earnings of the highest 10%, the average and the lowest 10% of workers. $35,700 is the average for all occupations.

Looking to the Year 2001
Current labour market conditions for new entrants in these occupations are poor. Labour market conditions for new entrants will become fair by 2001.

Labour requirements will increase through 2001 in these occupations in a number of industries, including crude petroleum and natural gas mining, chemicals, and refined petroleum and coal.