Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 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.
• Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

The Work

Pours, protects, and repairs concrete on construction sites. Creating concrete structures requires ensuring the concrete is mixed correctly and poured to the correct depth and pitch. A variety of placing methods may be used by Finishers, such as concrete wagon chute, concrete pump, concrete skip or wheelbarrow. The concrete may then be spread and levelled using shovels or rakes, before smoothing the surface, with a hand trowel, or specialised powered equipment.

This is the basic outline of the task, but depending on the nature of the project the job may require a broader range of skills and knowledge, to deal with challenges of scale or technical difficulty.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Check the forms that hold the concrete to see that they are properly constructed.
• Set the forms that hold concrete to the desired pitch and depth, and align them.
• Spread, level, and smooth concrete, using rake, shovel, hand or power trowel, hand or power screed, and float.
• Monitor how the wind, heat, or cold affect the curing of the concrete throughout the entire process.
• Mold expansion joints and edges, using edging tools, jointers, and straightedge.
• Signal truck driver to position truck to facilitate pouring concrete, and move chute to direct concrete on forms.
• Direct the casting of the concrete and supervise laborers who use shovels or special tools to spread it.
• Produce rough concrete surface, using broom.
• Apply hardening and sealing compounds to cure surface of concrete, and waterproof or restore surface.
• Operate power vibrator to compact concrete.

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.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Naturalist

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Pathways into concrete finishing can be varied but generally skills will be developed on the job while working as a General Construction Operative in the Construction sector. 

Some employers provide training to new employees, but some employers require that you have completed Health & safety or skills certs prior to employment.

Key Skill certs 

 Manual Handling: refers to physical activities in most workplaces, and in particular when the activities involve lifting heavy objects which could result in back injury.

Safepass: Safe Pass is a mandatory one-day health and safety awareness programme.

Concreteing 

These courses are available all around Ireland full & part time at low or no cost in FET Centres, you can search these key skills certs via Search our FET coursefinder 

Training & Development 

Traineeship: Construction & groundwork skills training NFQ level 4 Search our FET coursefinder

FET Centre PLC courses: Building, construction tech, sustainable construction tech NFQ Level 5 Search our FET PLC coursefinder

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €45k

Salaries vary by employer, location, duties. role, experience, and location.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Salary expert/ Indeed/ WRC Construction rates

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Overall employment levels for this occupation have been relatively stable in recent years; the negative employment growth over the five-year period for this occupation relates to changes that occurred on the introduction of the new Labour Force Survey in 2017. Although employment only increased marginally between 2021 and 2022, there was a high volume of recent job hires indicating that job churn is a significant issue. Scaffolders appeared in the employment permit data, the Recruitment Agency Survey and in the DSP Jobs Ireland vacancy data.

The number of QQI scaffolding awards (specific purpose) reached 329 in 2022, and except for 2019 (when there were 333 awards), was higher than at any point over the last 10 years. A new two-year apprenticeship for scaffolding was also announced in August 2021 which aims to alleviate any issues for this occupation. It is not possible, however, to determine from the Labour Force Survey or Census data the employment levels for scaffolders and as such it is difficult to determine the extent to which supply from the education/training system is meeting demand.

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