Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
•   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.
•   Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
•   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.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

Working Life

The Wholesale Butcher bones, cuts and packs meat for sale to retail butchers, catering butchers, restaurants and hotels as well as to overseas customers.  
 
Meat is cut from a carcass into various quantities and sises and then carefully stored in boxes and refrigerated until sold. The curing of meat (bacon and corned beef) would also be part of the daily duties. The cuts of meat are vacuum packed, labelled and prepared for dispatch to retail meat shops. There can also be some further preparation of the wholesale cuts into pre-packed, consumer ready items. The Butcher is responsible for cleaning tools and working areas at the end of the day.  
 
The Butcher works under the very strict legal requirements of:

• Food Hygiene and Safety Legislation
• Health and Safety in the Workplace
• Consumer Information
• Sale of Goods and Supply of Services
• Labelling legislation
• Origin and Traceability

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Prepare and place meat cuts and products in display counter to appear attractive and catch the shopper's eye.
• Wrap, weigh, label, and price cuts of meat.
• Cut, trim, bone, tie, and grind meats, such as beef, pork, poultry, and fish, to prepare in cooking form.
• Prepare special cuts of meat ordered by customers.
• Receive, inspect, and store meat upon delivery to ensure meat quality.
• Estimate requirements and order or requisition meat supplies to maintain inventories.
• Shape, lace, and tie roasts, using boning knife, skewer, and twine.
• Total sales, and collect money from customers.
• Record quantity of meat received and issued to cooks or keep records of meat sales.
• Supervise other butchers or meat cutters.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 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.

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

 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.

There are pathways via butchering, and pathways via manufacturing & processing in this occupation.

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.

Processing & Manufacturing Pathway:

All food workers must have completed both Food Hygiene and HACCP Butchers courses to be allowed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to engage in food work. These courses can be completed privately via training providers, FSAI Guide to HACCP training. 

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: manufacturing, HACCP, food safety.

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: manufacturing, HACCP, food safety.

Search for PLC Courses

Craft Butcher Pathway:

Secure an apprenticeship with a company, Craft butchers Association Local Employers

Apprenticeships: 
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.

Examples: Butcher.

Search for Apprenticeships

Apprentices will spend three/four years in training with his/her employer during which time instruction in all the skills required to become a qualified butcher will be developed.  
 
Having completed the relevant courses and passed the examinations the apprentice is awarded the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI) Qualification NFQ level 5.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €27k - €37k

Salaries vary by employer, location, duties, role, shift pattern, and experience

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed/ Excel/ Enterprise.gov

Last Updated: March, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Food, drink and tobacco process operatives.

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

The employment growth rate was almost on a par with the national average, although employment levels did not change between 2021 and 2022. There was a high share of non-Irish citizens, at 41%. The volume of employment permits issued in 2022 grew strongly compared to 2021, with the reintroduction of quotas for meat processing operatives.

There was also a high volume of vacancies for meat processing operatives advertised through DSP Jobs Ireland. Difficult-to-fill vacancies for food operatives occurred in the Recruitment Agency Survey and Skills for Growth data, although small in numbers. Targets to reduce agricultural carbon emissions are likely to see demand for this occupation curtailed, although issues with recruitment may persist due to the perceived attractiveness of some of the roles in this group.

• Teagasc - Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority

  • Head Office, Oak Park, Carlow
  • (059) 917 0200
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland (ACBI)

  • Dundrum Road, Dublin 14
  • (01) 868 2820
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

  • Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
  • (01) 607 2000 Lo Call 1890 200 510
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here