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House builder

Also called builder, home builder, builder of houses

House builders construct, maintain and repair houses or similar small buildings using a range of techniques and materials of several construction building workers.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects18 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Building and related trades workers (excluding electricians)What does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,000 (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Building and related trades workers (excluding electricians)What do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 5 in 10 train through vocational routes.Building and related trades workers (excluding electricians)Will AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.House builders · ILO

What you'd do

House builders · ILO
  • Preparing ground for erecting building or other structures
  • Erecting structures to support roof, and building and covering walls with appropriate materials
  • Fixing rafters to roof and covering with roofing material
  • Levelling floor to make it smooth and serviceable
  • Maintaining and repairing existing structures
  • Arranging for specialized work such as bricklaying, painting, plumbing and electrical wiring to be done by subcontractors
  • Coordinating and supervising the activities of subcontractors, labourers and other workers
Install construction profilesUse safety equipment in constructionWork in a construction teamFollow health and safety procedures in constructionFollow safety procedures when working at heights+ 16 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Constant contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the similar US job "Carpenters"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as building and related trades workers (excluding electricians) in the EU
7.48m8.08m7.63m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,849,000 replacing leavers 394,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Building and related trades workers (excluding electricians)18
All jobs29
Right now
7 of 27 countries report a shortage of house builders, 7 a surplus.
House builders · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,500 (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 craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in building and civil engineering is the usual route.

Highest qualification of building and related trades workers (excluding electricians) (EU, 2025)
Degree 7%Vocational 50%General secondary 8%Basic schooling 35%
Fields that teach it
Building and civil engineering · Electricity and energy
Vocational route, EU
5 in 10 trainees in this field

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 0.14 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Coordinating and supervising the activities of subcontractors, labourers and other workers0.28
Arranging for specialized work such as bricklaying, painting, plumbing and electrical wiring to be done by subcontractors0.17
Maintaining and repairing existing structures0.14
Preparing ground for erecting building or other structures0.10
Erecting structures to support roof, and building and covering walls with appropriate materials0.10
Fixing rafters to roof and covering with roofing material0.08
Levelling floor to make it smooth and serviceable0.08

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 house builders. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).