goldsmith
Snapshot
Transform precious metals into exquisite jewellery as a goldsmith. Combining artistic skill with technical expertise, you'll craft beautiful pieces and provide valuable services to customers.
Goldsmiths are skilled artisans who design, create, and sell jewellery. Your work involves a blend of creativity and precision, using gold and other precious metals and gemstones. You might work in a workshop, retail setting, or even from your own studio, adjusting existing pieces, repairing damaged jewellery, and appraising items for their value. The role demands a keen eye for detail, manual dexterity, and a strong understanding of metalworking techniques.
- • Designing jewellery pieces based on client requests or original concepts.
- • Fabricating jewellery using techniques like soldering, casting, and stone setting.
- • Repairing and adjusting existing jewellery, including resizing rings and replacing clasps.
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 Handicraft and printing workers — 77 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Italy, Portugal.
Longest-running shortage: Italy, 2 years.
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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Could goldsmith fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Future Outlook for goldsmith
The outlook for goldsmith 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 goldsmith change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could goldsmith change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
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
Most tasks here are AI-assistable rather than purely human-led.
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- develop jewellery designs
- use jewellery equipment
- pour molten metal into moulds
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
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
A typical day as a goldsmith
09 09:00 · Morning build jewellery models
10 10:30 · Mid-morning cast jewellery metal
12 12:00 · Midday create jewellery
14 14:00 · Afternoon develop jewellery designs
15 15:30 · Late afternoon heat jewellery metals
17 17:00 · Wrap-up clean jewellery pieces
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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jewellery processes
Materials and processes involved in creating jewellery items like earrings, necklaces, rings, brackets, etc.
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metal and metal ore products
The offered metal and metal ore products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
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imitation jewellery
The materials and processes used to create imitation jewellery, and how to manipulate the materials.
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jewellery product categories
Categories in which various types of jewellery can be found such as diamond fashion jewellery or diamond bridal jewellery.
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watches and jewellery products
The offered watches and jewellery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
- characteristics of precious metals
- coining
- electroplating metal materials
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pour molten metal into moulds
Pour molten steel or metal into moulds; operate by hand or by using cranes.
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cast jewellery metal
Heat and melt jewellery materials; pour in moulds to cast jewellery models. Use jewellery-making material such as spanners, pliers or presses.
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select gems for jewellery
Select and purchase gems to use in jewellery pieces and designs.
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select metals for jewellery
Select and purchase precious metals and alloys to use in jewellery pieces
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use jewellery equipment
Handle, modify, or repair jewellery-making equipment such as jigs, fixtures, and hand tools such as scrapers, cutters, gougers, and shapers.
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smoothen rough jewel parts
Smoothen rough parts of pieces of jewellery using hand files and emery paper.
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create jewellery
Create pieces of jewellery using precious materials such as silver and gold.
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heat jewellery metals
Heat, melt and shape metals for jewellery making.
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apply smithing techniques
Apply techniques and use technologies in relation to the various smithing processes, including sculpting, forging, upsetting, heat treating, and finishing.
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build jewellery models
Construct preliminary jewel models using wax, plaster or clay. Create sample castings in moulds.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
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Where does goldsmith fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of training or education is needed to become a goldsmith?
- While a formal degree isn't always required, goldsmithing often involves apprenticeships with experienced craftspeople, vocational training programs, or courses in jewellery design and metalworking. Building a strong portfolio of your work is essential.
- Can a goldsmith work independently?
- Yes, goldsmithing is a career that is commonly pursued as a self-business. Many goldsmiths establish their own studios or workshops, selling their creations directly to customers or through online platforms. However, many goldsmiths are employed by jewellery stores, workshops, or design houses.
- What are the most important qualities for a successful goldsmith?
- Successful goldsmiths possess a combination of artistic talent, technical skill, and attention to detail. Patience, manual dexterity, problem-solving abilities, and a passion for working with precious materials are also crucial.
- Goldsmith — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 7 of the 9 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Czechia, Germany, Spain and 3 more. 2 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Goldsmith — what does it pay in the United States?
- $49,140 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $35,950 to $69,800. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.