Toolmakers and Related Workers: Jobs in Demand in Europe (2025)
Toolmakers and Related Workers is an official occupation group (ISCO-08 code 7222) used by the International Labour Organization and Eurostat.
- Die maker
- Gunsmith
- Jig maker
- Locksmith
- Patternmaker
- Toolmaker
Pay in the UK for this job
UK occupation used: Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out (SOC 2020 code 5222). Placeivo matched this to ISCO-08 7222 by job title and duties; the UK and international occupation lists do not line up exactly. National figure for the whole United Kingdom, in pounds sterling (GBP), before income tax and National Insurance.
Small sample: the ONS quality measure (coefficient of variation) is annual figure 17%. ONS advises using estimates like this with caution.
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional, Table 14 (occupation by 4-digit SOC 2020): tables 14.7a (annual pay, gross) and 14.1a (weekly pay, gross), full-time employee jobs, United Kingdom. Weekly pay is for April 2025; annual pay is for the tax year ending 5 April 2025, employees in the same job for at least a year. Retrieved 2026-10-13.
UK Skilled Worker visa for this job
This occupation (UK code 5222, Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out) is a medium-skilled job. GOV.UK says a new visa for a medium-skilled job is usually possible only if the job is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, with their own conditions; some people extending a visa they already hold have different rules. Check both lists before applying. GOV.UK says the lower going rate applies if you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa in certain occupations, or got the certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker visa before 4 April 2024 and have held one ever since. Going rates are for a 37.5-hour week and are pro-rated for other hours. Placeivo matched this UK code to ISCO-08 7222 by job title; the lists do not line up exactly.
This is a summary of official rules, not legal advice. Rules change and some people (for example those already on a Skilled Worker visa) have different rules. Always check GOV.UK before you apply.
Source: UK Visas and Immigration, GOV.UK tables "Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations and codes" and "Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes", updated 2025-07-22, retrieved 2026-10-15. General minimum salary from GOV.UK "Skilled Worker visa: Your job", checked 2026-10-15.
Compare UK visa going rates by job · Eligible occupations (GOV.UK) · Going rates (GOV.UK) · Salary rules (GOV.UK)
Latest toolmakers and related workers 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
2,639 open ads- Toolmaker
German title: Werkzeugmechaniker
AUREA GmbH · Solingen · Posted 2026-10-17 - Toolmaker
German title: Werkzeugmechaniker
persona service AG & Co.KG. Lüdenscheid · Lüdenscheid · Posted 2026-10-16 - Toolmaker
German title: Werkzeugmechaniker
NIHS GmbH · Cloppenburg · Posted 2026-10-16 - Toolmaker
German title: Werkzeugmechaniker
PersEH GmbH · Jülich · Posted 2026-10-16 - Toolmaker
German title: Werkzeugmechaniker
iperdi AHR GmbH - Niederlassung Geesthacht · Hamburg · Posted 2026-10-16 - Toolmaker
German title: Werkzeugmechaniker
DEKRA Arbeit GmbH · Nürtingen · Posted 2026-10-16
Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (German Federal Employment Agency). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Germany
Sweden
36 open ads- Production fitter to expansive technology operations – Norra Stockholm
Swedish title: Produktionsmontör till expansiv teknikverksamhet – Norra Stockholm
Kraftsam Rekrytering & Bemanning AB · Stockholm · Posted 2026-10-16 - Aerospace NDT technician at DEKRA
The We Select Company AB · Stockholm · Posted 2026-10-16 - Toolmaker Gnosjö
Swedish title: Verktygsmakare Gnosjö
TopWork Sverige AB · Gnosjö · Posted 2026-10-16 - Prototyping Technician
Swedish title: Prototyptekniker
Nitrocapt AB · Uppsala · Posted 2026-10-15 - Technical Survey Specialist
Swedish title: Specialist inom teknisk undersökning
Totalförsvarets Forskningsinstitut, Foi · Nynäshamn · Posted 2026-10-15 - Shop Technician
Swedish title: Butikstekniker
SafeTeam i Sverige AB · Stockholm · Posted 2026-10-14
Source: Arbetsförmedlingen (Swedish Public Employment Service). Ads are written by employers; Placeivo does not check them. See all ads in Sweden
Where toolmakers and related workers are needed in Europe
| Country | EURES 2025 | Average gross pay, all craft and related trades workers (2022) | 1-bed rent in the capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Shortage | €3,048 a month * | Vienna: €1,250 |
| Belgium | Shortage | Not yet verified | Brussels: €1,150 |
| Bulgaria | Shortage | €683 a month | Sofia: €650 |
| Denmark | Shortage | €4,885 a month * | Copenhagen: €1,800 |
| Estonia | Shortage | €1,512 a month | Tallinn: €720 |
| Germany | Shortage | €3,095 a month | Berlin: €1,350 |
| Italy | Shortage | €2,220 a month * | Rome: €1,300 |
| Lithuania | Shortage | €1,444 a month | Vilnius: €830 |
| Netherlands | Shortage | €3,145 a month | Not yet verified |
| Portugal | Shortage | €1,083 a month * | Lisbon: €1,400 |
| Romania | Shortage | €969 a month * | Not yet verified |
| Slovenia | Shortage | €1,645 a month | Ljubljana: €950 |
| Latvia | Surplus | €1,288 a month | Riga: €870 |
Pay: Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey 2022, mean gross monthly earnings of all craft and related trades workers in each country, in euros. This is the average for the whole occupation group, not for toolmakers and related workers alone, and before tax. * Firms with 10 or more employees only. Rent: Eurostat, good-quality 1-bedroom flat in the capital, 2025.
What toolmakers and related workers do
Toolmakers and related workers make and repair custom-made and specialised tools, sports guns, locks, dies, patterns, machinery components and other metal articles using hand and machine tools to work metal to fine tolerances.
Typical tasks
- Reading and interpreting engineering drawings and specifications of tools, dies, prototypes or models
- Preparing templates and sketches, and determining work processes
- Visualizing and computing dimensions, sizes, shapes and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications
- Positioning, securing and measuring metal stock or castings to lay out for machining
- Setting up, operating and maintaining conventional and computer numerically controlled machine tools to cut, turn, mill, plane, drill, bore, grind or otherwise shape work pieces to prescribed dimensions and finish
- Fitting and assembling parts to make and repair jigs, fixtures and gauges
- Repairing and modifying sports guns and other small arms
- Making, fitting, assembling, repairing and installing lock parts and locks
- Making and repairing metal patterns for preparation of foundry moulds
- Laying out lines and reference points on metal stock to guide other workers who cut, turn, mill, grind or otherwise shape metal
- Verifying dimensions, alignments and clearances of finished parts for conformity with specifications, using precision measuring instruments and testing completed items for proper operation
Finding toolmakers and related workers jobs in Europe
- EURES is the official job portal of the EU public employment services. The search above looks for "Toolmaker".
- 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. United Kingdom, closest UK occupation: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (median pay of full-time employees).
- Job ads: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Germany) and Arbetsförmedlingen (Sweden), refreshed about once a day.