Mover
Key facts
Movers are responsible for the physical handling of goods and belongings to be relocated or transported from one place to the other. They disassemble goods, machinery or belongings for transporting and assemble or install them in the new location. They ensure that objects are well protected and packed, secured and placed correctly in trucks and transports.
Movers are essential for transporting goods and belongings, whether it's a single household or a large business relocation. Your day involves carefully handling items, disassembling and reassembling furniture and equipment, and ensuring everything is properly protected during transit. You'll work to provide a smooth and stress-free moving experience for clients.
- • Disassembling furniture and equipment for transport and reassembling it at the new location.
- • Packing, securing, and loading items onto trucks or other transport vehicles, ensuring proper protection.
- • Safely transporting goods to the destination and unloading them with care.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Labourers in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport — 25 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands.
Longest-running shortage: Netherlands, 4 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.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $40,240 2025-05 | +1.5% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +3.1% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £31,589 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
Do you guide students, clients or employees? Use this occupation data in your organisation.
Future Outlook for mover
The outlook for mover 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 mover 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.
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.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- follow work procedures
- follow detailed procedures for relocating specific goods
- communicate with customers
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- read pictograms
- handle delivery of furniture goods
- stack goods
Tasks most exposed to automation
- maintain inventory of tools
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
Supply Chain & Transportation
A typical day as a mover
09 09:00 · Morning read pictograms
10 10:30 · Mid-morning carry objects
12 12:00 · Midday follow detailed procedures for relocating specific goods
14 14:00 · Afternoon handle delivery of furniture goods
15 15:30 · Late afternoon select equipment required for moving activities
17 17:00 · Wrap-up communicate with customers
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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handle delivery of furniture goods
Handle the delivery and assemble the furniture and other goods, according to customer's needs and preferences.
-
carry objects
Carry and relocate objects from one place to another adhering to health and safety regulations. Carry objects while maintaining their integrity.
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follow detailed procedures for relocating specific goods
Adhere to detailed procedures required for the relocation of special items such as pianos, artifacts, antique furniture, and others.
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communicate with customers
Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
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stack goods
Stack goods and manufactured products into containers. This may include anticipating the need for and utilising additional protective materials in stacking the products.
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read pictograms
Interpret pictograms that indicate characteristics and required measures for handling objects through visual representations.
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pack goods
Pack different kinds of goods such as finished manufactured products or goods in use. Pack goods by hand in boxes, bags and other types of containers.
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use communication devices
Operate communication devices in order to interact with customers, colleagues, and others.
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follow work procedures
Adhere to procedures at work in a structured and systematic manner.
-
use traditional toolbox tools
Use tools found in a traditional toolbox, such as hammer, plier, screwdriver, and wrench. Observe safety precautions while operating these instruments.
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maintain inventory of tools
Keep an inventory of tools utilised in the provision of services. Ensure that tool sets remain complete and suitable for use.
animal transport regulations
The legal requirements relating to safe and efficient transport of animals.
- hazards associated with loading dangerous goods
- electricity
- health and safety measures in transportation
- mechanics
- types of packaging materials
Path to become a mover
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Primary education
The closest officially recognised professional qualification in the Flemish qualification structure:
- Verhuizer Flemish level 3
A closest match, not an exact equivalent: a qualification is often narrower than the occupation. Source: AHOVOKS, Flemish government (Kwalificatiedatabank), reused under the Flemish Open Licence for free reuse.
7 programmes in 5 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 37 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Työtehoseura ry · Finland
These are 1 of 44.
Sources
- 1. Source: Opintopolku.fi (Finnish National Agency for Education)
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does mover fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of physical demands are involved in being a mover?
Do I need any specific training or qualifications to become a mover?
What are the typical work conditions for a mover?
Is there a shortage of Mover in Europe?
How much does Mover pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data