72106

Welders and related machine operators

TEER 2 — College diploma, apprenticeship (2+ yrs) or supervisory

Express Entry skill level: Yes
Regulated in Québec: Yes
In demand in Manitoba: Yes

Classification

Trades, transport & equipment operators

7 › 72 › 721 › 7210

Definition

Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This unit group also includes machine operators who operate previously set up production welding, brazing and soldering equipment. They are employed by companies that manufacture structural steel and platework, boilers, heavy machinery, aircraft and ships and other metal products, and by welding contractors and welding shops, or they may be self-employed. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Welders
Read and interpret blueprints or welding process specifications
Operate manual or semi-automatic welding equipment to fuse metal segments using processes such as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), plasma arc welding (PAW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), oxy-acetylene welding (OAW), resistance welding and submerged arc welding (SAW)
Operate manual or semi-automatic flame-cutting equipment
Operate brazing and soldering equipment
Operate metal shaping machines such as brakes, shears and other metal straightening and bending machines
Repair worn parts of metal products by welding on extra layers.
Welders may specialize in certain types of welding such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, aerospace precision welding, pressure vessel welding, pipeline construction welding, structural construction welding, or machinery and equipment repair welding.
Welding, brazing and soldering machine operators
Operate previously set up welding machines such as spot, butt and seam resistance or gas and arc welding machines to fabricate or repair metal parts
Operate previously set up brazing or soldering machines to bond metal parts or to fill holes, indentations and seams of metal articles with solder
Start up, shut down, adjust and monitor robotic welding production line
Assist with the maintenance and repair of welding, brazing and soldering equipment
May adjust welding heads and tooling according to work specifications.

Example job titles

•aviation welding technician
•brazing machine operator
•brazing machine setter
•electric arc welder
•journeyman/woman welder
•laser welding operator
•pressure vessel welder
•production welder

Overview

Under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 system, Welders and related machine operators are classified under NOC code 72106, falling within TEER category 2. This unit group includes professionals who operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as machine operators who run previously set up production welding, brazing, and soldering equipment. To qualify for immigration pathways under this code, candidates typically require a high school diploma, along with a completed three- to four-year apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years of relevant work experience in the trade and some industry courses in welding.

Skilled welders under NOC 72106 are eligible for several economic immigration pathways to Canada. Because this is classified as a TEER 2 skilled trade, applicants can qualify for the Express Entry system, specifically the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program. Many provinces also target skilled trades through provincial nominee program (PNP) pathways, and options are available through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) for those with qualifying job offers.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal immigration advice. For official and up-to-date guidelines, please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).

Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.

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Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.