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JOBS AVAILABE IN ALB.

young gun

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2007
Messages
245
Location
northwestern ontario
SO HOW IS THE BOOM IN ALBERTA AFFECTING THE LABOUR FORCE FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR. IS IT GOOD OR BAD. SORRY IF I AM BEING NOSEY BUT OUT IN ONTARIO I HEAR NO FIRST HAND REPORTS AND LOTS OF RUMOURS.
 
It's made it very, very difficult for anyone to hire good help. It's also creating more idiots and less good help, because all the younger ones are getting this attitude that they automatically deserve $20/hour and a company truck and phone or something. They don't realize that on the farm, it ain't quite the same. It's really a shame to see so many people get this false sense of reality. When the bom busts, they're not going to have a clue what to do with their $1200/month truck payment, $2000/month mortgage, and all the other payments that go along with living in the fast lane.
 
There was an ad last fall for a pen checker that paid over 70 thousand a year with benefits. :shock: There has been talk here that fresh calves are not going to be first choice for the feedlots to buy this year simply due to the fact that they don't have the manpower to keep on top of health problems. It seems to be showing in the prices of yearlings versus calves so far.

What we hear from neighbours that have moved to Alberta is that the money is good, but the housing is expensive, if you can find it. Really expensive. A fellow I met last summer just sold his thirty year old mobile home in Fort McMoney for well over a quarter of a million. Took the money and ran straight home to Manitoba. 8)
 
YEA THE CALF MARKET IS NOT AS STRONG AS THE YEARLING MARKET WITH TWO REASONS. PRICE OF GRAIN IS UP SO THEY WANT THE SHORT KEEPS ALSO AS YOU SAID THE PRICE OF LABOUR OR LACK OF BECAUSE THERE IS LESS SICKNESS IN THE OLDER CATTLE.
 
Last I heard Van Raay Farms was paying $17.50 for pen checkers plus a horse allowance.

The harvest crews are getting $20, big crews new equipment.

A house in Picture Butte where Van Raay is, runs about $225k for a nice bungalow fairly new 3 bedroom 2 bath etc. Brand new maybe $285k

Some of the camp jobs where you never are home pay big bucks, $300 per day for water tank drivers etc.

Lots of jobs in every community from $10 for burger flippers, to $18-19 for truck drivers, labourers.
 
Rhodielassie said:
Can anyone tell me what good websites or magazines are available for agricultural jobs in Alberta and British Columbia.

Are you andybob's wife-- looking to leave that old fogie for your goldmine in Canada :???: :wink: :lol: :P
The folowing website often has Canadian Ag jobs listed- and if your registered sends out a periodical e-mail that has job openings....

http://www.agri-ville.com/
 
Rhodielassie said:
Can anyone tell me what good websites or magazines are available for agricultural jobs in Alberta and British Columbia.

'the Western Producer' classifieds are an excellent place to start. You can find them online too.
 
Who are you calling an old fogie Oldtimer?? :shock:
Visiting sister-in-law is interested for her husband, things are deteriorating in South Africa as well now!
But who knows, if there is something better than this increasingly corporate attitude in my present position, I might even consider moving to where I can be a stockman again :D
 
young gun said:
I HEAR THE FEEDLOTS ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING PEN CHECKERS IS THIS TRUE OR JUST ANOTHER ALBERTA RUMOUR
I understand that rumors true,I believe a job with home provided can be arranged pretty easily...look into the Western Producer,theres always ranch type jobs available there.Have you ever looked into Williams Lake in BC...they have great family oriented ranch type jobs there,I think Jigger Boss can lead you to thier site
 
We just returned from Alberta last night and read there that MacDonalds had such a hard time getting employees they were paying $20/hr and including room and board :shock:

In a Jasper restaurant a fellow working for the oil line going through town said that they were expecting 300-400 employees to flood in. The waitress said town folks were kicking out their renters to make room for the higher-paying oil renters. It seemed like every house had a room for rent sign out (or No Vacancy available.)

Food prices, motel prices and clothing seemed high to us. All we bought there to bring home was a stick of deoderant!
 
Yep Mrs Greg, the Douglas Lake Cattle Company usually has jobs available. Its a very family orientated ranch. Gorgeous there too to boot!.


http://www.douglaslake.com/
Could also check out the Gang Ranch.. don't know if they have a website or not, but you should be able search for a phone number.
There are quite a few large outfits around Merritt, Quilchena, Williams Lake, Quesnel.


http://www.agri-labourpool.com/jobseekers/postings/livestockranchjobs/10045.html

http://www.bcguestranches.com/employment.htm

When I get some more time I'll see what else I can find.
 
nr, prices in Banff and Jasper have always been exorbitant, just due to being tourist traps.
As to feedlot jobs, there are lots out there, and if I could find the one that pays 70K a year, I'd take it! Unfortunately, 17/hr is more like it, and at the 30.000 head lot where I work winters, there are four pen checkers at the moment, one of them an Aussie who will be leaving before Christmas. My lot pays less than the rest of them in the area, and the boss just figures if you need more money you should work more hours, so I'm pretty sure he'll be issuing head lamps so we can work in the dark. With only four pen checkers, it isn't possible to get everything done before dark in the winter, but reading tags for sorts in the dark is tough! Trying to do the 'afternoon' check on calves in the dark is a real challenge too.
My son is about starving to death working there, and is seeking a different job, and he doesn't have any huge payments. He does have a house payment and a vehicle payment, but who in that age group doesn't? The cost of fuel, farrier, and horse replacement (it's damn tough on horses when no one is doing any pen scraping, and there are only four of you in the whole lot) mean you are working several hours every day just to cover those expenses.
It isn't just pen riders, but maintenance, box scraper guys, etc. I'm pretty sure there are a dozen jobs needing filled at my lot alone. They have been bringing in Mexican Mennonites to fill some of them but some of them have come and gone too.
 
I have employed Mexican Mennonites before and they are generally good workers. The problem with them is they will not work on Sunday and are not usually very innovative. Another problem is most cannot ride and generally do not work well with animals.
 
nr said:
We just returned from Alberta last night and read there that MacDonalds had such a hard time getting employees they were paying $20/hr and including room and board :shock:

In a Jasper restaurant a fellow working for the oil line going through town said that they were expecting 300-400 employees to flood in. The waitress said town folks were kicking out their renters to make room for the higher-paying oil renters. It seemed like every house had a room for rent sign out (or No Vacancy available.)

Food prices, motel prices and clothing seemed high to us. All we bought there to bring home was a stick of deoderant!
LOL,most of us Albertans stay away from Banff and Jasper,beautiful areas but way out priced.

The oil companys pay retarded prices for the rooms,ask Pure Country,the little divy hotel in his town was charging STUPID prices for its rooms,and getting it. They now have a camp set up for the guys,sad for that hotel :wink:

Other then that I hope you enjoyed the trip to our home province,next time you'll have to leave the beaten path and see some great ranching and farming areas,sorry I missed you :(
 

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