jobfacts

Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations

SOC 2020 5212

Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations mark off, drill, shape, position, rivet and seal metal plates and girders to form structures and frameworks operate power hammers and presses to shape heated metal to requirements and to make and repair a variety of metal articles and make moulds and cores for casting metal and pour or inject molten metal into dies.

Also calledFoundry moulderFoundry workerCore makerFoundry castings makerBlacksmithForge workerand 204 more titles
Typical full-time pay£37,1002025 Provisional
People in the job11,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month277↑ 10%on last year · 320th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
What full-time metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations earn, 2025
£37,100 typicaln/ptop 10%
n/p: top 10% not published by ONS
Show as table
Lowest 10% earn less thanNot published
Lowest 20% earn less thanNot published
25%Not published
Median£37,100
75%Not published
Top 20% earn more thanNot published
Top 10% earn more thanNot published
Typical pay by regionUK median £37,100
Yorkshire and The Humber!£38,500
East of England!£33,900
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
UK median, £37,100
Yorkshire and The Humber£38,500 (small sample)
East of England£33,900 (small sample)
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS
Typical pay over 3 years
  • 2023 £31,800
  • 2024 £36,700
  • 2025 Provisional£37,100
↑ 17% since 2023Provisional figures are revised when ONS publishes the next year’s survey.

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 277 jobs for metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (3 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026292
Jul 2026424
Jun 2026253
May 2026275
Apr 2026247
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026240
Jan 2026324
Dec 2025144
Nov 2025348
Oct 2025282
Sept 2025215
Aug 2025270
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 2025293
Apr 2025242
Mar 2025260
Feb 2025301
Jan 2025216
Dec 2024113
Nov 2024183
Oct 2024241
Sept 2024289
Aug 2024274
Jul 2024268
Jun 2024299
May 2024295
Apr 2024418
Mar 2024391
Feb 2024405
Jan 2024428
Dec 2023384
Nov 2023366
Oct 2023370
Sept 2023360
Aug 2023343
Jul 2023377
Jun 2023519
May 2023426
Apr 2023351
Mar 2023398
Feb 2023351
Jan 2023413
Dec 2022321
Nov 2022344
Oct 2022408
Sept 2022399
Aug 2022414
Jul 2022443
Jun 2022440
May 2022439
Apr 2022342
Mar 2022421
Feb 2022341
Jan 2022522
Dec 2021347
Nov 2021413
Oct 2021391
Sept 2021398
Aug 2021345
Jul 2021533
Jun 2021511
May 2021440
Apr 2021408
Mar 2021494
Feb 2021344
Jan 2021267
Dec 2020225
Nov 2020280
Oct 2020326
Sept 2020298
Aug 2020240
Jul 2020251
Jun 2020227
May 2020157
Apr 2020234
Mar 2020352
Feb 2020489
Jan 2020401
Dec 2019248
Nov 2019363
Oct 2019457
Sept 2019340
Aug 2019342
Jul 2019449
Jun 2019451
May 2019405
Apr 2019285
Mar 2019343
Feb 2019318
Jan 2019457
Dec 2018222
Nov 2018369
Oct 2018397
Sept 2018380
Aug 2018394
Jul 2018387
Jun 2018475
May 2018372
Apr 2018339
Mar 2018367
Feb 2018396
Jan 2018483
Dec 2017244
Nov 2017380
Oct 2017456
Sept 2017332
Aug 2017343
Jul 2017414
Jun 2017448
May 2017409
Apr 2017393
Mar 2017503
Feb 2017419
Jan 2017446
Is there a shortage of metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsAbove usual
  • Wage growthWell above usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedUsual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
46%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for metal forming, welding and related trades, which includes metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London93
Bristol, City of21
Manchester20
Somerset19
Sheffield19
Birmingham16
Glasgow City15
Leeds14
Nottingham13
Charnwood12
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. Fewer than 10 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations
26%!
n/p
n/p
n/p
n/p
n/p
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–2426% (small sample)
25–34Not published
35–44Not published
45–54Not published
55–64Not published
65+Not published
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!6.7%
Higher education below degree!11%
A levels or equivalent!26%
GCSEs or equivalent!47%
Other qualifications!34%
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent6.7% (small sample)
Higher education below degree11% (small sample)
A levels or equivalent26% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent47% (small sample)
Other qualifications34% (small sample)
No qualificationsNot published

Main employers: support activities for animal production (29%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
6.7%
as their highest qualification
Most common qualification
GCSEs or equivalent
held by 47%
Apprenticeships
2
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
3½ to 4 years
typically

Routes in

Foundry moulder

You can get into this job through:

College

You can do an engineering course at college, which will give you some of the skills you need to find a trainee job in a foundry.

Courses include:

  • engineering operations
  • skills for engineering and manufacturing
  • engineering and technology
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Engineering and Manufacturing Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
  • Engineering Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Metal Casting and Foundry Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship
  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More about this route
Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

  • have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • are in care or have been in care
  • are in prison or have been in prison

Apply directly

You can apply to foundries for work if you've got experience in engineering, factory production or metal fabrication.

Registration and professional bodies

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Institute of Cast Metals Engineers for professional development training and to make contacts in the industry.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for foundry moulder. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Blacksmith

You can get into this job through:

University

You can do a foundation degree or degree course that covers metalworking, such as:

  • artist blacksmithing
  • craft practices
  • design and craft
  • art and design

You'll usually need a portfolio of your work and creative ideas to show at university interviews.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • a foundation diploma in art and design
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You could do a college course to learn some of the skills needed in this job. This could help when looking for a trainee position with a blacksmith.

Courses include:

  • blacksmithing and metalworking
  • fabrication and welding
  • art and design
  • T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply for an apprenticeship, for example:

  • Welder Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Blacksmith Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Plate or Pipe Welder Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could work as an assistant to an experienced blacksmith and learn the craft on the job. You might find it useful if you have experience in metalwork and technical drawing.

You may be able to use industrial welding experience to find a trainee blacksmith job with a specialist metalwork company.

Other routes

You could do a short introductory course in blacksmithing. This will help you decide if it's a career that would suit you. The British Artist Blacksmiths Association has details of training organisations.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

You need to show examples of your work and decorative ideas to get onto courses, and when contacting blacksmiths about trainee positions.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the British Artist Blacksmiths Association or The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths for professional development and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can get more details about working as an artist blacksmith from the British Artist Blacksmiths Association and the Crafts Council.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for blacksmith. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Farrier

You can get into this job through:

College

There are a small number of colleges offering a farriery access course. This prepares you for application to become an apprentice farrier.

This course lasts 1 year.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do a Farriery Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship with an approved training farrier.

This takes around 4 years to complete and includes training on the job and periods of study at a college approved by the Farriers Registration Council.

You will need to find an approved training farrier who is willing to take you on as an apprentice.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

Other routes

You could join the army as a soldier with the Household Cavalry.

After 2 years as a mounted ceremonial trooper, you would be eligible to apply for a place with The Forge, the regiment's team of farriers.

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you must be registered with Farriers Registration Council
Further information

You'll find more details about training and working as a farrier from the Farriers Registration Council and the British Farriers and Blacksmiths Association.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for farrier. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

2 for this job

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • examines drawings and specifications to determine operational requirements
  • marks out metal plate with guidelines and reference points and cuts metal plate using hand or machine tools
  • uses machine tools to bend, curve, punch, drill and straighten metal plate as required
  • uses hydraulic jacks to position and align metal platework or frame for welding and bolting and rivets together metal plate and girders
  • creates mould units out of sand, loam or plaster by hand or machine and fits cores into mould to form hollow parts in casting
  • seals seams with caulking compound, smooths welds, fixes metal doors, metal collars, portholes, tank and hatch covers and performs other metal plate finishing tasks using a variety of hand and power tools
  • heats metal for forging and positions heated metal on anvil or other work surface
  • operates press or hammer and repositions workpiece between strokes
  • uses forging tools to shape and cut metal and bends or shapes metal by hand forging methods using hammers, punches, drifts and other hand tools
  • tempers and hardens forged pieces, as required, by quenching in oil or water
  • fits and secures horses shoes
  • scoops molten metal from furnace into die or die casting machine

Skills

  • ensure correct metal temperature
  • ensure equipment availability
  • monitor gauge
  • remove scale from metal workpiece
  • wear appropriate protective gear
  • monitor automated machines
  • operate forging tongs
  • perform test run
  • remove inadequate workpieces
  • remove processed workpiece
  • set up the controller of a machine
  • supply machine
  • troubleshoot
  • apply preliminary treatment to workpieces

Knowledge

  • forging processes
  • hot forging
  • types of metal
  • cold forging
  • ferrous metal processing
  • non-ferrous metal processing
  • types of metal manufacturing processes
  • quality standards

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Organising and following procedures

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades, a group of 23 jobs that includes metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↓ 6.5%about 72,000 fewer jobs
Workers needed by 2035338,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.