94132

Industrial sewing machine operators

TEER 4 — High-school diploma or several weeks of training

Express Entry skill level: No
Regulated in Québec: No
In demand in Manitoba: No

Classification

Manufacturing & utilities

9 › 94 › 941 › 9413

Definition

Industrial sewing machine operators operate sewing machines to sew fabric, fur, leather or synthetic materials to produce or repair garments and other articles. They are employed in clothing, footwear, textile products, fur products and other manufacturing establishments and by furriers.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Assemble pieces of garments by matching patterns and dye lots
Operate single, double or multi-needle serging, flat bed felling, banding and other sewing machines, to join sections of garments or other articles into finished products on a piece-work or production basis
Operate fur sewing machines to join fur pelt strips to required size and shape and join pelts into garment sections or shells
Operate stitching machines to sew leather parts together for leather garments, handbags, shoes and other leather articles
Operate serging machines to sew and overcast edges of material simultaneously
Operate tackers, pocketsetters, buttonhole makers and fusing, hemmer and other machines to perform various operations in the fabrication of garments and other articles
Examine garments and operate sewing machines, sergers and other machines to repair garments and other articles during the manufacturing process
Complete production reports
May perform minor maintenance and repairs on sewing machine.

Example job titles

•fur sewing machine operator
•leather products sewing machine operator
•lining stitcher
•sample sewer
•serging machine operator
•sewing machine operator
•shoe sewer

Overview

Under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, industrial sewing machine operators are classified under code 94132. This TEER 4 occupation primarily involves operating single, double, or multiple-needle industrial sewing machines to sew, reinforce, or decorate fabric, leather, fur, or synthetic materials. Professionals in this field are employed by clothing, footwear, textile product, and fur manufacturers, as well as custom tailoring shops. Key duties include adjusting machine guides, operating sewing equipment, performing basic machine maintenance, and inspecting sewn parts for quality control.

To qualify for employment in this sector, some secondary school education is generally required, along with on-the-job training. Since NOC 94132 is a TEER 4 occupation, it is eligible for specific Canadian immigration pathways, including the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and various Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that target semi-skilled workers. Candidates should check individual provincial requirements, as stream eligibility can vary by province.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the official ESDC portal for the most up-to-date program requirements.

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.