Manufacturing & Production
Meat Process Worker
Meat process workers prepare all types of meat products for retail, catering or manufacturing operations.
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Entry-level education
Junior secondary school certificate or equivalent
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Job outlook
What does a Meat Process Worker do?
Meat process workers prepare all types of meat products for retail, catering or manufacturing operations.
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Work activities
As a meat process worker, you may:
- work in one of a variety of settings including abattoirs, factories, meat processing plants or butcheries
- prepare animals for slaughter
- prepare carcasses for sale
- butcher meat into particular cuts
- produce and package meat products
- use electric and hand held cutting tools
- follow strict hygiene and safety guildelines
- use packaging machinery.
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Key skills and interests
To become a meat process worker, you would need:
- a good level of physical fitness
- a high level of concentration
- the ability to do repetitive tasks quickly and accurately
- teamworking skills
- good practical skills
- a strong awareness of safety and hygiene.
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Working hours and conditions
Working Hours
As a meat process worker you would usually work a standard number of hours per week, possibly on a shift basis. Part-time work is often available.
Conditions
You would spend all day on your feet and may be lifting heavy carcasses. You may work in refrigerated areas.
You would wear protective clothing, which may be also in the form of a uniform.
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How to become an Meat Process Worker?
Entry Level Education
To become a meat process worker you do not need formal qualifications. You would get some training on the job, including in safety and hygiene.
You may also become a meat processing worker through a traineeship in Meat Processing (Abattoirs/General). Generally employers require a junior secondary school certificate or equivalent.
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Job outlook
Employment of processing workers is projected to grow slower than the average for all occupations.
Food manufacturing and processing companies increasingly are using automation to raise productivity. As these companies further consolidate their facilities and streamline production processes, they will need fewer workers to operate machines. However, some manual labour is still needed in the processing of meat and animal carcasses, so there will still be demand for meat processing workers.
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