Browse Skills metalworking

metalworking

🔄 Evolving ESCO reuse: sector-specific

The process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large-scale structures.

metalworking — the process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large-scale structures. McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the evolving band (SCI 50.68/100) — the skill will still matter in 2030 but the nature of the work is changing. ESCO classifies it as a sector-specific (rooted in one industry) skill within knowledge. It is currently listed by 12 occupations in our catalogue, including electronic musical instrument maker, guitar maker, harp maker, and harpsichord maker.

Category: knowledge › mechanics and metal trades SCI: 50.68/100 Also known as: working of metal, metal production, working metal, metal working, metal manufacturing, metal assembling

Occupations that require metalworking

Showing top 12 of 12 occupations · ranked by India employment volume, then AI-durability.

electronic musical instrument maker · 🤖 5.0/10
guitar maker · 🤖 5.0/10
harp maker · 🤖 5.0/10
harpsichord maker · 🤖 5.0/10
idiophone musical instruments maker · 🤖 5.0/10
keyboard musical instrument maker · 🤖 5.0/10
membranophone musical instruments maker · 🤖 5.0/10
metal furniture machine operator · 🤖 5.0/10
organ builder · 🤖 5.0/10
piano maker · 🤖 5.0/10
stringed musical instrument maker · 🤖 5.0/10
violin maker · 🤖 5.0/10

Frequently asked questions

What is metalworking?

The process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large-scale structures.

What category of skill is metalworking?

ESCO classifies metalworking under the knowledge category, specifically in the mechanics and metal trades subcategory.

Is metalworking an AI-durable skill?

McKinsey's Skill Change Index places it in the evolving band (SCI 50.68/100) — the skill will still matter in 2030 but the nature of the work is changing. Continue investing, but pair it with the AI-tool workflow that is reshaping the field so you evolve with it.

Which jobs require metalworking?

In our catalogue, 12 occupations list metalworking as a required or important skill. The top occupations by employment volume include electronic musical instrument maker, guitar maker, harp maker, harpsichord maker, idiophone musical instruments maker, keyboard musical instrument maker.

How transferable is metalworking between industries?

ESCO tags metalworking as a sector-specific (rooted in one industry) skill — a signal of how portable it is when you change field.

Is metalworking the same as working of metal?

Yes — metalworking is also known as working of metal, metal production, working metal, metal working, metal manufacturing, or metal assembling. They refer to the same underlying capability in the ESCO taxonomy.

How can I learn metalworking?

The most reliable path is to pick a job or project that demands metalworking and learn through delivery. Complement that with role-specific roadmaps and short courses. Explore the occupations below to see where this skill is used in practice.

Data: ESCO v1.2.1 (CC-BY-4.0). Durability framework informed by McKinsey Global Institute (Nov 2025). See our methodology.