Occupation
Roofer
Roofers install and repair roof coverings and the layers beneath them, working with shingles, membranes, metal, tile, and built-up systems. It is outdoor, weather-dependent work carried out at height, and fall protection is central rather than incidental. Diagnosing an existing leak is often harder than installing new covering, because water travels before it shows.
Also known as: Roofing installer · Flat roofer · Shingler
Occupation content
Part of Skilled trades, maintenance and repair
What the work involves
- Strip existing roof coverings and inspect the deck and structure underneath.
- Install underlayment, vapour control, insulation, and drainage details.
- Lay shingles, membrane, metal panels, or tile to the manufacturer's system requirements.
- Flash penetrations, valleys, edges, and parapets so water is directed off the roof.
- Trace and repair leaks in existing roofs and carry out planned roof maintenance.
- Set up edge protection, anchors, and access, and check them before working near an edge.
How people commonly enter
- A registered roofing apprenticeship with a roofing contractor.
- A trade-school or pre-apprenticeship roofing programme used to enter the trade.
- Entry as a roofing labourer on tear-off and loading, moving into installation with training.
- Manufacturer system training taken by working roofers to install and warrant specific membrane systems.
Typical training: Apprenticeship
Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Pathways: Apprenticeship route
Typical work context
Outdoors · Client sites · Physically active · Team based · High responsibility
Related interests
Realistic (hands-on) · Conventional (organizing)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Skilled trades, maintenance and repair.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Roofers · United States
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- Red Seal Program — Designated Red Seal trades · Canada
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- UK National Careers Service — Explore careers · United Kingdom
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Skilled trades, maintenance and repair in Canada, not a figure for Roofer. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Skilled trades, maintenance and repair family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Skilled trades, maintenance and repair: education pathways
Some roles in Skilled trades, maintenance and repair may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Skilled trades, maintenance and repair: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)