View occupational profile

Search the OaSIS

Butchers - retail and wholesale

OaSIS code 63201.00

Butchers prepare standard and specialty cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments. Butchers who are supervisors or heads of departments are included in this unit group. Apprentices are also included in this unit group

Overview

Also known as

  • Apprentice butcher - retail or wholesale
  • Butcher - butcher shop
  • Head butcher - wholesale
  • Retail butcher

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Cut, trim, bone and otherwise prepare custom and/or standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale at self-serve counters or according to customers' orders
  • Prepare meat for special displays and/or delivery
  • Shape, lace and tie roasts and other meats, poultry or fish and may wrap or package fresh or frozen or prepared meats
  • Manage inventory, keep records of sales and determine amount, product line and freshness of products according to company and customer requirements
  • Adhere to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and food safety standards
  • Ensure food storage conditions are adequate
  • May supervise, direct work or train other butchers, meat cutters or fishmongers.

Additional information

  • Progression from Industrial Butcher positions and Industrial Meat Cutter positions to these higher skilled jobs is possible with experience and specialized on the job training in supermarkets, grocery stores, fish stores, butcher shops.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Seafood sales clerk (in 64100.01 Retail salespersons)
  • Meat cutter - retail or wholesale (in 65202.00 Meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

6 – Sales and service occupations

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

63 – Occupations in sales and services

Sub-major group

632 – Occupations in services

Minor group

6320 – Cooks, butchers and bakers

Unit group

63201 – Butchers - retail and wholesale

Occupational profile

63201.00 – Butchers - retail and wholesale

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Handling and Moving Objects
4 - High Level
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics
3 - Moderate Level
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
3 - Moderate Level
Managing Resources
3 - Moderate Level
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
3 - Moderate Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
2 - Low amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
4 - Close (at arm’s length)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
0 – Not applicable
Standing
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
3 - About half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
3 - Important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Butcher shops
  • Fish stores
  • Grocery stores
  • Self-employment
  • Supermarkets

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Arm-Hand Steadiness
3 - Moderate Level
Colour Perception
3 - Moderate Level
Control of Settings
3 - Moderate Level
Dynamic Strength
3 - Moderate Level
Finger Dexterity
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Management of Financial Resources
3 - Moderate Level
Management of Material Resources
3 - Moderate Level
Management of Personnel Resources
3 - Moderate Level
Coordinating
2 - Low Level
Critical Thinking
2 - Low Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Concern for Others
4 - Highly important
Independence
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: RCE

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • Completion of secondary school may be required.
  • Completion of a college or other butchery training program may be required.
  • Several years of on-the-job training in food stores is usually required for retail butchers.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Biology
1 - Basic Level
Client Service
1 - Basic Level
Languages
1 - Basic Level
Livestock, Farm Animals & Wildlife
1 - Basic Level
Manufacturing, Processing and Production
1 - Basic Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Date modified: