Weaving and Knitting Machine Operators: Jobs in Demand in Europe (2025)

Weaving and Knitting Machine Operators is an official occupation group (ISCO-08 code 8152) used by the International Labour Organization and Eurostat.

  • Carpet weaving machine operator
  • Knitting machine operator
  • Net production machine operator
  • Weaving machine operator
5European countries report a shortage (EURES 2025)
4countries report a surplus
85open job ads right now in Germany and Sweden
8152ISCO-08 occupation code
Short answerIn the 2025 EURES report on labour shortages, 5 European countries reported a shortage of weaving and knitting machine operators: Belgium, Czechia, Italy, Romania and Slovenia. 4 reported a surplus: Austria, Finland, Latvia and Slovakia.

Latest weaving and knitting machine operators job ads

Real vacancies from the official public employment services, updated daily. Job titles are translated into English automatically; the full ad opens on the official site in German or Swedish (your browser's translate button turns it into English).

Germany

75 open ads

Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Germany

Sweden

10 open ads

Source: Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Sweden

Where weaving and knitting machine operators are needed in Europe

CountryEURES 2025Average gross pay, all plant and machine operators and assemblers (2022)1-bed rent in the capital
BelgiumShortageNot yet verifiedBrussels: €1,150
CzechiaShortage€1,285 a monthPrague: €1,250
ItalyShortage€2,300 a month *Rome: €1,300
RomaniaShortage€924 a month *Not yet verified
SloveniaShortage€1,633 a monthLjubljana: €950
AustriaSurplus€3,040 a month *Vienna: €1,250
FinlandSurplus€3,361 a month *Helsinki: €1,150
LatviaSurplus€1,221 a monthRiga: €870
SlovakiaSurplus€1,230 a monthBratislava: €910

Pay: Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey 2022, mean gross monthly earnings of all plant and machine operators and assemblers in each country, in euros. This is the average for the whole occupation group, not for weaving and knitting machine operators alone, and before tax. * Firms with 10 or more employees only. Rent: Eurostat, good-quality 1-bedroom flat in the capital, 2025.

What weaving and knitting machine operators do

Weaving and knitting machine operators set up, operate and monitor weaving and knitting machines which process yarn or thread into woven, non-woven and knitted products such as cloth, lace, carpets, industrial fabric, hosiery and knitted garments or to quilt and embroider fabric.

Typical tasks

  • Setting up and operating batteries of automatic, link-type knitting machines to knit garments of specified pattern and design
  • Threading yarn, thread and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting or other processing
  • Tending automatic looms that simultaneously weave pile yarn, filling yarn and warp yarn material to produce carpets and rugs with various coloured designs
  • Operating and monitoring loom on which yarn or twist is intersected and knotted at regular intervals to form mesh
  • Operating and monitoring large automatic multi-needle machines to embroider material or to sew lengths of several layers of material to make yard goods, quilts or mattress coverings
  • Tending circular knitting machines with automatic pattern controls that knit seamless hose
  • Operating and monitoring knitting machines to knit hosiery to shape of foot and leg
  • Operating and monitoring machine for knitting heel and toes of socks into ribs or tops cut from circular fabric
  • Operating and monitoring machine which seams openings in toes of socks
  • Operating and monitoring crochet machine to knit lace, trimming etc. of desired pattern or design
  • Examining looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks or mechanical defects
  • Repairing or replacing worn or defective needles and other components
  • Cleaning, oiling, and lubricating machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oil cans, and/or grease guns

Finding weaving and knitting machine operators jobs in Europe

  • EURES is the official job portal of the EU public employment services. The search above looks for "Knitting machine operator".
  • Some jobs are regulated professions: before you can work, your qualification may need to be recognised in the new country.
  • If you are not an EU/EEA citizen you will usually need a work permit or a visa such as the EU Blue Card. Check the rules of the country's immigration authority.

Cost of living where the jobs are

Take-home pay needed to rent a good 1-bedroom flat in the capitals of countries reporting a shortage:

About this data

  • Shortage and surplus: European Labour Authority, EURES Report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025, annex table 21 (published 2026). Each country's public employment service reports which occupations it finds hard to fill or in oversupply. Countries not listed did not report this occupation as either.
  • Definition, tasks and job titles: International Labour Organization, ISCO-08 structure and definitions.
  • Pay: Eurostat, Structure of Earnings Survey 2022 (earn_ses22_48), by occupation group.
  • Job ads: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Germany) and Arbetsförmedlingen (Sweden), refreshed about once a day.

See all jobs in demand in Europe · Methodology