Automotive Manufacturing Jobs
General Motors Factory Jobs in Canada
No degree neededUnion jobsPaid training
Where: Oshawa • Ingersoll • St. Catharines
Updated 2026
Employer
General Motors of Canada
Benefits
Health • pension
✓Oshawa trucks and CAMI EV vans✓Unifor union jobs✓Canada’s EV manufacturing hub✓No degree for production
At GM’s CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, an assembler fits a battery module into an electric delivery van rolling down what is now Canada’s first large-scale EV line. A few years ago she was stocking shelves. Today she is a Unifor member building the future of transport, with full benefits and a pension.
General Motors is one of Canada’s biggest auto employers, and most of its plant jobs need no degree. This guide explains the real roles at GM’s Canadian factories, what they pay, who can apply, and how to apply safely without ever paying a fee.
Why GM’s Canadian Plants Keep Hiring
General Motors of Canada runs Oshawa Assembly, building full-size pickup trucks; the CAMI plant in Ingersoll, converted to build BrightDrop electric delivery vans; and the St. Catharines propulsion plant making engines and transmissions. Strong truck demand and a major push into electric vehicles keep openings flowing across all three sites.
These are unionised Unifor jobs with negotiated pay scales and strong benefits. As GM ramps up truck and EV production and older workers retire, the company recruits reliable people who can learn the work — and trains them on the job.
The GM Factory Jobs You Can Start With
Careers at GM usually begin on the line as a production associate and branch into EV assembly, powertrain, logistics and the skilled trades. Nearly all come with paid training.
Assembly / Production Associate
You build vehicles or components on the line, fitting parts and using tools to strict standards. It is the main entry role, needs no experience, and is where most GM careers begin.
EV Van Assembler (CAMI)
At CAMI in Ingersoll you assemble BrightDrop electric delivery vans, including battery and electric-drive components. It is a growing, future-focused role at Canada’s first full-scale EV plant.
Powertrain Assembler (St. Catharines)
At the St. Catharines propulsion plant you build and test engines and transmissions. It is precise, quality-driven work with strong, stable demand.
Skilled Trades
Millwrights, electricians, toolmakers and controls technicians keep the plants and robots running. These certified trades are the highest-paid roles and are always sought after.
Material Handler / Logistics
You supply the line with parts, drive forklifts and tuggers, and manage materials flow. A forklift licence is a helpful asset here.
Note: Factory work is shift-based, physical and repetitive. GM’s Canadian plants are unionised under Unifor, so pay and conditions follow a collective agreement. You must be legally entitled to work in Canada, and roles usually involve a background check.
Who GM Will Hire
Who can apply
- ✓Legally entitled to work in Canada
- ✓18 or older with a high-school diploma or equivalent
- ✓Physically fit for repetitive line work and rotating shifts
- ✓Able to pass a background check
- ✓Reliable attendance and a team attitude
- ✗A university degree is NOT required for production roles
What GM Factory Jobs Really Pay
As a Unifor employer, GM pays on a negotiated scale — new hires usually start on a grow-in rate and rise to the full rate over time, with skilled trades well above production. The ranges below are indicative, not guaranteed offers.
Production Associate (grow-in)CAD $25–32/hrFairly reliable
Material Handler / LogisticsCAD $26–33/hrFairly reliable
EV Van Assembler (CAMI)CAD $27–35/hrFairly reliable
Powertrain AssemblerCAD $28–38/hrFairly reliable
Skilled TradesCAD $38–48/hrFairly reliable
Bars show rough relative pay, not a promise. Actual pay depends on employer, experience and package.
The Unifor collective agreement adds scheduled progression to the full rate, plus shift premiums, overtime and cost-of-living adjustments — so earnings climb steadily with seniority.
Note: These are indicative ranges; actual pay follows the current collective agreement and your role and seniority. Confirm the exact scale and grow-in period before accepting an offer.
The Skills GM Looks For
What gets you hired
GM hires for reliability, safety and a quality mindset first — steady attendance and the discipline to follow standardised work matter as much as anything. Manual dexterity and the stamina for repetitive, precise tasks are essential on the line. The fastest way to raise your pay is the skilled trades: a millwright, electrician or toolmaker ticket opens the top roles, and demand for electrical and battery skills is rising quickly as CAMI builds electric vans and GM expands EV production.
Where GM’s Jobs Are
Where to look
GM’s three Canadian sites are Oshawa Assembly in the Durham region east of Toronto, the CAMI electric-van plant in Ingersoll in southwestern Ontario near London, and the St. Catharines propulsion plant in the Niagara region. Each draws workers from across its area, and together they anchor a wide stretch of Ontario’s auto corridor where parts suppliers and related plants add still more openings nearby.
The Benefits Behind a Union Job
What comes with the job
A GM job pays by direct deposit, with Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Employment Insurance (EI) handled automatically. As a Unifor member you get one of the strongest packages in manufacturing — employer health and dental insurance, a solid pension, and life and disability cover, all under a collective agreement. A dependable union income also builds the credit history that supports a car loan and, in time, a mortgage, while union membership adds job security and a clear, negotiated path for pay to rise.
What a Shift at GM Feels Like
Work runs to line pace, with standardised tasks done as vehicles or components move through each station. Plants operate rotating day, afternoon and night shifts, plus overtime and weekend production when demand is high. Comfort with changing hours and a fast, structured rhythm is important.
The environment is indoor, safety-focused and unionised, so seniority and the collective agreement shape schedules and job moves. The work is physical and repetitive, but the camaraderie is real, and — especially at CAMI — you may be building electric vehicles that represent where the whole industry is heading.
Truck assembly (Oshawa)
- •Builds full-size pickup trucks
- •High-volume, fast-moving line
- •Durham region, east of Toronto
- •Broad entry into vehicle assembly
EV & Powertrain (CAMI / St. Catharines)
- •Electric-van assembly or engine and transmission work
- •Future-focused, battery and drive components
- •Southwestern Ontario and Niagara
- •Technical, quality-driven roles
How to Move Up at GM
GM promotes by seniority and skill, and the union scale means pay rises on a known schedule. Each step adds responsibility and money.
1
Production Associate
Start on the line on the grow-in rate, learning standardised work and building seniority.
2
Full-rate Associate / Specialist
Reach the full negotiated rate and move into EV assembly, quality or a lead-hand role.
3
Skilled Trades Apprentice
Enter an apprenticeship in a trade such as millwright or electrician and train toward certification.
4
Trades Certified / Team Leader
Work as a certified tradesperson or lead a team — strong pay and a route into supervision and plant roles.
How to Apply the Right Way
1
Confirm eligibility and prepare
Make sure you can work in Canada, then write a simple resume highlighting reliability, attendance and any manufacturing, warehouse or physical experience.
2
Apply on GM’s official careers site
General Motors of Canada posts openings on its own careers website, and roles also appear on the Government of Canada Job Bank and Indeed. Big-three hiring often comes in application drives, so apply promptly.
3
Complete the assessment and interview
Expect a work-style assessment, an interview about reliability and teamwork, and a clear explanation of the physical demands and shift rotation.
4
Pass the background check
A background check is standard before an offer is confirmed for most roles.
5
Finish orientation and start
New hires complete paid orientation and on-the-job training and begin work as Unifor members under the collective agreement.
Mistakes That Cost People the Job
⚠ Never pay to get a GM job
General Motors recruits only through its official careers website and never charges a fee. Anyone claiming to be a “GM recruiter” who asks for money, a deposit or a payment for a guaranteed job is running a scam. Genuine employers pay you — never the reverse.
⚠ Ignore fake “auto job plus visa” offers
Be cautious of agents promising a Canadian auto-plant job bundled with a visa or LMIA in exchange for fees, your original documents or a bank OTP. Apply directly through GM, verify everything, and never send money or banking codes to an unverified recruiter.
The Documents You’ll Need Ready
Keep these ready
- ✓Proof you can work in Canada — citizenship, PR card or valid work permit
- ✓Social Insurance Number (SIN) for payroll
- ✓Government-issued photo ID
- ✓A clear resume showing relevant experience
- ✓Proof of education (high-school diploma or equivalent)
- ✓Any trade or forklift certificates, and references
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience to work at a GM factory?
No. The entry role, production associate, needs no manufacturing experience — GM provides paid training. A high-school diploma, physical fitness and reliable attendance matter most.
What do GM factory jobs pay in Canada?
Pay follows the Unifor scale. New hires usually start on a grow-in rate around CAD $25–32 an hour and rise to the full rate over time, while skilled trades reach roughly $38–48 an hour.
Where are GM’s Canadian plants?
Oshawa Assembly (full-size trucks) east of Toronto, the CAMI electric-van plant in Ingersoll, and the St. Catharines propulsion plant making engines and transmissions.
Does GM build electric vehicles in Canada?
Yes. The CAMI plant in Ingersoll builds BrightDrop electric delivery vans — Canada’s first large-scale EV assembly plant — with growing demand for battery and electrical skills.
Is GM unionised?
Yes. GM’s Canadian plants are represented by Unifor, so pay, benefits and conditions follow a negotiated collective agreement.
What shifts will I work?
Plants run rotating day, afternoon and night shifts, with overtime and weekend production during busy periods, so comfort with changing hours is important.
What benefits do GM jobs include?
As a Unifor member you typically get employer health and dental insurance, a solid pension, and life and disability cover, along with CPP and EI contributions.
Do I have to pay to get a GM job?
Never. GM recruits only through its official careers website and charges nothing. Anyone demanding a fee, your documents or a bank OTP for a guaranteed job is a fraud.
Ready to apply? Confirm you can work in Canada, prepare a simple resume, and apply through GM’s official careers page. Show reliability and a safety mindset — and never pay a fee to any recruiter.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and career guidance only. Pay, benefits, shifts and requirements follow the current collective agreement and change over time. Always verify job details and work-eligibility requirements directly with the employer and official Canadian authorities before applying. We are not affiliated with General Motors or any company named here; names are used only to help readers understand the industry. Never pay money or share banking codes to get a job.
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