Occupation
Scaffolder
Scaffolders erect, alter, inspect, and dismantle the temporary access structures other trades work from. The job is governed by design drawings, load limits, tie patterns, and inspection regimes, because a scaffold failure is a serious incident. It involves working at height in most weather and carrying components all day.
Also known as: Scaffold erector · Access systems installer · Scaffolding operative
Occupation content
Part of Architecture, construction and infrastructure
What the work involves
- Assess the ground, structure, and access conditions before starting an erection.
- Erect standards, ledgers, transoms, braces, boards, and guardrails to the scaffold design.
- Install ties and anchors to the building and check them against the tie pattern.
- Fit edge protection, toe boards, ladders, and access gates and tag the scaffold's status.
- Alter or extend scaffolds as trades progress and re-inspect after any change or bad weather.
- Dismantle scaffolds in reverse sequence and load, sort, and inspect components for damage.
How people commonly enter
- A registered scaffolding apprenticeship or industry training scheme with recognised card grades.
- Entry as a scaffolder's labourer progressing through supervised on-the-job training and assessment.
- Short accredited scaffolding and working-at-height courses required before working unsupervised.
- Transfer from another construction trade with the scaffolding-specific competence card the jurisdiction requires.
Typical training: Apprenticeship
Licensing: Regulated in most jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Typical work context
Outdoors · Physically active · Team based · Client sites · 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 Architecture, construction and infrastructure.
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.
- UK National Careers Service — Scaffolder · United Kingdom
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- O*NET OnLine — Construction Laborers (47-2061.00), closest US classification · United States
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- Canada Job Bank — Occupation search: scaffolder · Canada
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Architecture, construction and infrastructure in Canada, not a figure for Scaffolder. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Architecture, construction and infrastructure 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
Architecture, construction and infrastructure: education pathways
Some roles in Architecture, construction and infrastructure 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
Architecture, construction and infrastructure: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
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