Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   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.
•   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.
•   Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   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.

Working Life

Bill posters, sometimes known as bill fixers or stickers, put up advertising posters onto hoardings or billboards. The posters are printed in sections and delivered to the depot, where the bill posters/fixers may be involved in preparing them for display. The sections of the posters have to be put in order, ready for fixing, and rolled in water so that they remain supple. Rolls are numbered and marked up with the client's name.  
 
Bill posters/fixers usually drive a van to transport the posters, ladders, tools, brushes and paste to the advertising hoarding sites. Working from ladders, bill posters/fixers strip old posters from the hoarding. They then paste up the board and brush the sheets of the poster into place with a long handled brush. It's important to make sure that there are no bubbles or wrinkles and that the sheets of the poster are matched up correctly.  
 
Sometimes, bill posters/fixers stick posters onto advertising displays made up of three-sided aluminium slats that turn to show different posters on each side. This work is usually done on a frame in the workshop. The sheets are stuck on to static slats to make up the poster and, once it is dry, cuts are made between the slats to allow rotation.  
 
Other work done by bill posters includes maintaining advertising panels - removing graffiti from them, painting the frames and repairing them.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Smooth strips or sections of paper with brushes or rollers to remove wrinkles and bubbles and to smooth joints.
• Trim rough edges from strips, using straightedges and trimming knives.
• Trim excess material at ceilings or baseboards, using knives.
• Check finished wallcoverings for proper alignment, pattern matching, and neatness of seams.
• Mark vertical guidelines on walls to align strips, using plumb bobs and chalk lines.
• Cover interior walls and ceilings of rooms with decorative wallpaper or fabric, using hand tools.
• Apply adhesives to the backs of paper strips, using brushes, or dunk strips of prepasted wallcovering in water, wiping off any excess adhesive.
• Measure and cut strips from rolls of wallpaper or fabric, using shears or rasors.
• Place strips or sections of paper on surfaces, aligning section edges and patterns.
• Fill holes, cracks, and other surface imperfections preparatory to covering surfaces.

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.

A Bill Poster is someone who puts up posters and signs for various clients. The job requires physical strength, attention to detail and safety awareness. As a new hire, you will join a short training programme to learn the basics of the job. You will work with an experienced bill poster who will show you how to prepare, transport and install the posters. You will also learn how to use the tools and equipment safely and efficiently. The training takes place on site, where you will get hands-on experience and feedback.

Key Skill Certs: 

Full Driving License. 

Manual Handling.

Working at Height Certs 

These courses may be available at low or no cost via the Local FET Centre Search our FET CourseFinder 

Further Education courses including Electrical or Electronic Engineering may be relevant. Some displays may be LCD alongside print and hard-copy. 

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 technology operations, construction.

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: electrics, construction skills, engineering, electronics.

Search for PLC Courses

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €10k - €41k

Work is often part time. 
Bill posters/fixers earn in the range of €10,500 - €15,000 a year, rising to €16,000 - €41,000 a year.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed

Last Updated: February, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Weavers and knitters; Upholsterers; Footwear and leather working trades; Tailors and dressmakers Textiles; garments and related trades n.e.c.; Pre-press technicians; Printers Print finishing and binding workers; Glass and ceramics makers; decorators and finishers Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers; Florists Other skilled trades n.e.c.

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

The five-year annual average employment growth rate was below average for this occupation, although there was an increase of over 2,000 persons employed between 2021 and 2022. As the Census data indicates, there are a large number of roles within this group, with many employing fewer than 1,000 persons. Between 2016 and 2022, employment levels fell for many of these roles.

Despite the decline in employment evident in the Census data, the Skills for Growth data indicates issues with recruitment of upholsterers for both the industry and retail (repair) sectors; upholsterers also appeared in the DSP Jobs Ireland vacancy data (albeit in small numbers), along with spray painters (included in the other skilled trades n.e.c. category). Although demand for many of these trades have declined in recent years, an increased focus on the circular economy may see increased demand, or at least slow the decline for roles such as upholsterers and tailors.

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