[Site name]

Factory hand

Also called general hand, factory worker, factory labourer

Factory hands assist machine operators and product assemblers. They clean the machines and the working areas. Factory hands make sure supplies and materials are replenished.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects28 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €800 (Bulgaria) to €4,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWhat do I need to study?Basic schooling4 in 10 have basic schooling only.Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transportWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified · ILO

What you'd do

Manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified · ILO
  • Conveying goods, material, equipment and other items to work areas, and removing finished pieces
  • Loading and unloading vehicles, trucks and trolleys
  • Clearing machine blockages, cleaning machinery, equipment and tools
  • Carrying out manual sorting of products or components
Clean equipmentClean building floorsClean surfacesSupply machine with appropriate toolsMaintain work area cleanliness+ 2 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines every day
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Helpers--Production Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport in the EU
4.98m5.67m5.76m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
88,000 new jobs 1,502,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport28
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified, 10 a surplus.
Manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €800 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,300 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among elementary occupations in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Elementary occupations · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Basic schooling

Most people start with basic schooling and learn on the job.

Highest qualification of labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport (EU, 2025)
Degree 8%Vocational 36%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 42%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.12 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 4 tasks
Carrying out manual sorting of products or components0.14
Clearing machine blockages, cleaning machinery, equipment and tools0.12
Conveying goods, material, equipment and other items to work areas, and removing finished pieces0.11
Loading and unloading vehicles, trucks and trolleys0.11

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for manufacturing labourers not elsewhere classified. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).