bricklayer
Key facts
Build a solid career as a bricklayer! This skilled trade involves crafting durable and aesthetically pleasing structures, from homes and businesses to monuments and landscaping features. It's a rewarding path for those who enjoy hands-on work and seeing tangible results.
As a bricklayer, your days are spent constructing walls, arches, and other structures using bricks, blocks, and related materials. You’ll carefully measure and mark layouts, mix mortar, and skillfully lay bricks according to blueprints and specifications. Precision and attention to detail are crucial to ensure structural integrity and a professional finish. You’ll often work outdoors in various weather conditions, and may collaborate with other construction professionals like carpenters and masons.
- • Reading and interpreting blueprints and construction plans.
- • Mixing mortar and other binding agents to the correct consistency.
- • Laying bricks, blocks, and other materials in a precise and stable pattern.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Building and related trades workers, excluding electricians — 54 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and 9 more.
Longest-running shortage: Belgium, 4 years.
Where it is regulated, your qualification would need formal recognition before you could practise.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
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Future Outlook for bricklayer
The outlook for bricklayer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could bricklayer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could bricklayer change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- work ergonomically
- secure working area
- follow health and safety procedures in construction
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- inspect construction supplies
- interpret 3D plans
- interpret 2D plans
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Construction
A typical day as a bricklayer
09 09:00 · Morning check straightness of brick
10 10:30 · Mid-morning discharge cement
12 12:00 · Midday finish mortar joints
14 14:00 · Afternoon install construction profiles
15 15:30 · Late afternoon interpret 2D plans
17 17:00 · Wrap-up lay bricks
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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building codes
The set of guidelines that determine the minimum standards for buildings and other constructions in order to protect public health and safety.
- building codes
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work ergonomically
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
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follow health and safety procedures in construction
Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.
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use safety equipment in construction
Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.
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follow safety procedures when working at heights
Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.
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lay bricks
Lay bricks in the specified pattern and apply a layer of mortar to create walls. Make sure every course of bricks is level and flush.
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check straightness of brick
Use tools such as the level or the mason's line to check if the wall is straight and flush, and take action it isn't.
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interpret 3D plans
Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in three dimensions.
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interpret 2D plans
Interpret and understand plans and drawings in manufacturing processes which include representations in two dimensions.
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sort waste
Manually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.
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snap chalk line
Stretch a line covered in fine, non-staining chalk between two points and snap it against a surface to produce a straight line.
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split bricks
Use the appropriate tools to trim, split and shape bricks for use in walls. Use a mason's hammer for occasional shaping, and a hammer and chisel for larger quantities or when the split has to be especially straight.
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transport construction supplies
Bring construction materials, tools and equipment to the construction site and store them properly taking various aspects into account such as the workers' safety and protection from deterioration.
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inspect construction supplies
Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does bricklayer fit?
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Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What skills are important to be a successful bricklayer?
- Beyond the core skill of laying bricks accurately, strong mathematical skills for measuring and calculating, physical stamina for demanding work, and an eye for detail are essential. Problem-solving skills are also valuable when encountering unexpected challenges on a construction site.
- Do bricklayers typically work alone or as part of a team?
- Bricklaying is typically an employment-based role, meaning you'll usually work as an employee for a construction company or contractor. While you might perform some tasks independently, you’ll often collaborate with other construction workers and follow the direction of a site supervisor.
- What kind of training or experience is needed to become a bricklayer?
- While formal education isn't always required, apprenticeships are a common pathway to becoming a bricklayer. These programs combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction, allowing you to learn the trade from experienced professionals. Some individuals also gain experience through vocational schools or community colleges.
- Bricklayer — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 13 of the 16 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany and 9 more. Belgium has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Bricklayer — what does it pay in the United States?
- $60,800 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $42,710 to $95,220. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
- Bricklayer — is it a regulated profession?
- It is listed as a regulated profession in 10 European countries: Malta, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium and 6 more. The lowest qualification level required among them is EQF 3. Where a profession is regulated, a qualification earned elsewhere has to be formally recognised before you can practise. Source: EU Regulated Professions Database.