Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
•   Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
•   Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
•   Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
•   Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
•   Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
•   Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Working Life

As a road worker or highways operative, you would help build and repair roads and motorways. You might also excavate trenches, lay drains, kerbs and pipes, and paint road markings.

If you are physically fit, and would like a practical job working outside, this could suit you. In this job you would need to be able to follow instructions closely and work well in a team. You may have to be available to work evenings and weekends.

Mastic Asphalters

Mastic asphalters spread hot, mastic asphalt onto a wide variety of surfaces. Preperation work includes measuring the site and calculating the amount and type of asphalt required. Then they arrange for the delivery of materials and equipment which include boilers and mixers as well as hand tools or automated machinery to smooth the finished surface. After clearing and cleaning the site they lay the asphalt to the correct depth and seals the joints. Some surfaces may have a further finish such as tiles or gravel.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Start machine, engage clutch, and push and move levers to guide machine along forms or guidelines and to control the operation of machine attachments.
• Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
• Control paving machines to push dump trucks and to maintain a constant flow of asphalt or other material into hoppers or screeds.
• Observe distribution of paving material to adjust machine settings or material flow, and indicate low spots for workers to add material.
• Coordinate truck dumping.
• Drive machines onto truck trailers, and drive trucks to transport machines and material to and from job sites.
• Inspect, clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using mechanics' hand tools, or report malfunctions to supervisors.
• Set up and tear down equipment.
• Operate machines to spread, smooth, level, or steel-reinforce stone, concrete, or asphalt on road beds.
• Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.

Further Information

• Highways Cleaner- from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Road / Paving / Asphalt Workers- from: Day in the Life Of a Road Worker SEmedia.co.uk
• Road Worker- from: N.C.S. [UK]

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Training is normally carried out on-the-job by an experienced worker. You may also be given some off-the-job training in subjects such as health and safety. As with all building jobs a SafePass certification is required.

Key Skills Certs: 

Manual Handling certificate: prior to employment. ‘Manual Handling’ refers to physical activities in most workplaces, and in particular when the activities involve lifting heavy objects. 

SafePass: site health & safety awareness.

SOLAS Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS): construction skills & maintenance machinery; loaders, diggers, and roller machines.

These courses may be available at low or no cost in FET centres nationwide. You can search for these key skills certs, just add the key word via Search our FET CourseFinder

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: engineering, construction technology.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: engineering, construction technology.

Search for PLC Courses

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples: Engineering, Construction.

Search for Apprenticeships

Construction based trade apprenticeships may be a point of development in your career.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €28k - €41k

Salaries Vary by employer, location, role, duties, shift pattern, and experience.

Data Source(s):
SalaryExpert/ Payscale/ Morgan McKinley

Last Updated: February, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Elementary construction occupations, Scaffolders, stagers and riggers, Road construction operatives, Rail construction and maintenance operatives, Construction operatives n.e.c.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).

Employment growth for this occupation was below average with only marginal annual changes over the five-year period. There was a high share of recent job hires for these roles indicating that many of the roles may be transitory in nature. Over a third held at most lower secondary education, far exceeding the national average. A quarter of those employed were non-Irish citizens, also above the national average.

Scaffolders featured strongly in the online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) and also in the DSP data along with floor and wall cladding installers and groundworkers. The small number of employment permits issued in 2023 were mainly for scaffolders. The first awards made to learners on the new scaffolding apprenticeship programme were made in 2024 with 27 QQI awards made at NFQ level 5.

Demand for scaffolders appeared strong but the numbers employed are too small to determine if supply from the education/training system is sufficient to meet demand.

• Mastic Asphalt Council

  • PO Box 77, Hastings TN35 4WL, UK
  • + 44 1273 242 778
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Transport Infrastructure Ireland

  • Parkgate Business Centre, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8
  • (01) 646 3600
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Construction Industry Federation

  • Construction House, Canal Road, Dublin 6
  • (01) 406 6000
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here