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Insulation worker

Also called lagger, insulator, loft insulation installer

Insulation workers install a variety of insulation materials to shield a structure or materials from heat, cold, and noise from the environment.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 13 countries now. 18 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. 6 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.Insulation workers · ILO

What you'd do

Insulation workers · ILO
  • Cutting insulation material by size and shape
  • Applying slabs and sheets of insulating or sound-absorbing materials to walls, floors and ceilings of buildings
  • Blowing and packing insulating or sound-absorbing materials into cavities between walls, floors and ceilings of buildings with power-driven machines
  • Examining plans, specifications and work sites to determine the type, quality and quantity of insulation material required
  • Applying insulating materials to exposed surfaces of equipment such as boilers, pipes and tanks
  • Insulating refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment
Apply proofing membranesUse measurement instrumentsInstall insulation materialTransport construction suppliesInterpret 2D plans+ 12 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Insulation Workers, Mechanical"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

13 EU countries are short of insulation workers now, but 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
13 of 27 countries report a shortage of insulation workers, 5 a surplus.
Insulation workers · 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 electricity and energy 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
Electricity and energy · Environmental protection technology
Vocational route, EU
6 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 0.13 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Applying insulating materials to exposed surfaces of equipment such as boilers, pipes and tanks0.15
Examining plans, specifications and work sites to determine the type, quality and quantity of insulation material required0.14
Insulating refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment0.14
Cutting insulation material by size and shape0.12
Applying slabs and sheets of insulating or sound-absorbing materials to walls, floors and ceilings of buildings0.11
Blowing and packing insulating or sound-absorbing materials into cavities between walls, floors and ceilings of buildings with power-driven machines0.11

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 insulation workers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).