roofer
Key facts
Do you enjoy working outdoors and have a knack for problem-solving? As a roofer, you'll play a vital role in protecting buildings from the elements, ensuring their structural integrity and longevity.
Roofers are skilled tradespeople responsible for constructing, repairing, and maintaining roofs on residential and commercial buildings. Your work involves a combination of physical labor, technical skill, and attention to detail. You’ll assess roof conditions, select appropriate materials, and ensure the roof is watertight and structurally sound. This role often requires working at heights and in various weather conditions.
- • Installing roofing materials such as shingles, tiles, metal, or membranes.
- • Inspecting existing roofs for damage and identifying necessary repairs.
- • Measuring, cutting, and shaping roofing materials to fit the roof structure.
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: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia and 11 more.
Longest-running shortage: Austria, 3 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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Could roofer 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 Dependability?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Leadership?
Future Outlook for roofer
The outlook for roofer 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 roofer 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 roofer 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 roofer
09 09:00 · Morning inspect roofs
10 10:30 · Mid-morning apply roll roofing
12 12:00 · Midday install gutters
14 14:00 · Afternoon install roof flashing
15 15:30 · Late afternoon interpret 2D plans
17 17:00 · Wrap-up lay interlocking roof tiles
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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roofing techniques
Techniques used to form the upper covering of a building according to specific materials such as ceramic tiles, wood shingles, slate, metal, concrete of plant stalks.
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crane load charts
Crane load charts detail the features of the crane and how its lift capacity varies depending on distance and angle.
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energy efficiency
Field of information concerning the reduction of the use of energy. It encompasses calculating the consumption of energy, providing certificates and support measures, saving energy by reducing the demand, encouraging efficient use of fossil fuels, and promoting the use of renewable energy.
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envelope systems for buildings
The physical characteristics of envelope systems for buildings and their limitations. The heat transfer principle in the envelope systems.
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solar panel mounting systems
Different ways of setting up solar panels, such as pole mounting, where the panels are fixed to a surface, ballasted mounting, where weights are used to keep the panels in place, and solar tracking, where panels are mounted on a moving surface in order to follow the sun through the sky for optimal insolation.
- asbestos removal regulations
- building codes
- energy performance of buildings
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perform roof maintenance
Recommend and perform maintenance and repair work such as fixing broken shingles, replacing flashing, clearing debris and securing the gutters.
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apply roll roofing
Roll out mats of roofing material, often bituminous asphalt, to cover flat or low-pitched roofs. Apply the felt layer first if required. Make sure there are no gaps so the roof is weatherproof. Firmly attach the layer to the structure.
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install roof flashing
Form and fix the pieces, usually made of metal, that make the joint between the roof and the masonry or brick work, and prevent water infiltration into the structure.
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install gutters
Take measurements, cut the desired length of gutter, assemble gutter pieces to form the corners using adhesive substances and screws, drill a hole for the connection with the vertical gutter, establish the height of the gutter, fix the horizontal and the vertical gutters to the walls using brackets and screws.
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remove roofs
Remove faulty or otherwise unneeded roofs. Unmount roof elements and accessories such as rain gutters and solar panels. Protect the structure from the elements while the roof is being removed.
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lay interlocking roof tiles
Lay interlocking roof tiles of various shapes and materials. Fix the tiles to the battens judiciously, and take special care of the verges, ridges and hips.
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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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inspect construction supplies
Check construction supplies for damage, moisture, loss or other problems before using the material.
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recognise signs of wood rot
Check whether a wood element shows signs of rot. Aurally inspect the wood by testing what sound it makes on impact. Check for visual signs of rot.
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inspect roofs
Inspect the condition of an existing roof. Check the state of the weight-bearing structure, roof covering, insulation, and accessibility. Take into account the intended purpose of the roof, including any accessories to be installed.
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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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prepare roofing materials
Select the appropriate pieces and, if necessary, prepare them for fixing by cutting, sawing, trimming the edges.
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sort waste
Manually or automatically sort waste by separating it into its different elements.
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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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secure working area
Secure the operation site fixing boundaries, restricting access, placing signs and taking other measures in order to guarantee public and staff safety.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
Take the free Career DNA assessment to see how roofer aligns with your interests, work style, and future path. In less than 10 minutes, you will get a personalized fit signal and a roadmap for what to do next.
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Where does roofer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of physical demands are involved in being a roofer?
- Roofing is a physically demanding job. You'll be lifting heavy materials, working at heights, and often exposed to weather extremes. Good physical fitness and stamina are essential.
- Do I need any specific training or qualifications to become a roofer?
- While formal education isn't always required, apprenticeships and on-the-job training are common pathways. Gaining experience through a structured program can significantly improve your skills and career prospects.
- What safety precautions should roofers take?
- Safety is paramount. Roofers must consistently use appropriate safety equipment, including harnesses, helmets, and non-slip footwear. Following safety protocols and being aware of surroundings is crucial to prevent accidents.
- Roofer — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 15 of the 18 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus and 11 more. Austria has reported one for 3 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Roofer — what does it pay in the United States?
- $50,970 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $24,100 to $77,900. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.
- Roofer — is it a regulated profession?
- It is listed as a regulated profession in 11 European countries: Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, France and 7 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.