Ironworkers
Career Overview
Ironworkers are involved in the ironwork portion of the construction of buildings, bridges, highways, dams and other structures and equipment.
Ironworkers make, put up, hoist, install, repair and service structural ironwork, precast concrete, concrete reinforcing materials, curtain walls, ornamental iron and other metals used in construction. They work for construction ironwork contractors.
Job Titles
Duties
Ironworkers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Read blueprints and specifications to lay out work
- Unload and position steel units so each piece can be hoisted as needed
- Put up and install scaffolding, hoisting equipment and rigging
- Signal crane operator to position steel units according to blueprints
- Align and weld or bolt steel units in place
- Set up structural and architectural precast concrete components for buildings, bridges, towers and other structures
- Assemble and set up prefabricated metal structures
- Position and secure steel bars or metal mesh in concrete forms to reinforce concrete structures
- Install ornamental and other structural metalwork such as curtain walls, metal stairways, railings and power doors
- Examine structures and equipment for deterioration, defects or non-compliance with specifications
- Take down structures and equipment when needed
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,970% Employed Full Time
48%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place in an indoor environment where temperatures may vary
- Work may also take place outside where workers are exposed to various weather conditions
- Working with equipment, machinery or power/hand tools may be a source of injury
- Workers may risk injury from operating welding equipment
- The workplace may be noisy, which could affect hearing
- Work locations, such as bridges and towers, may be hazardous
Career Pathways
Red Seal trade certification allows for movement between provinces.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school is usually required
- Completion of a two- to three-year apprenticeship program
or
Over three years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in ironworking are usually required to be eligible for trade certification - Trade certification for ironworker (generalist) is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia
- Trade certification for ironworker (reinforcing) is compulsory in Quebec and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia
- Trade certification for ironworker (structural/ornamental) is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia
- Trade certification for ironworker (metal building systems erector) is compulsory in Alberta
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified ironworkers upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination
Ironworkers who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Trades training resources
Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Ironworking
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,970Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 45 | 2.3% |
| Kootenay | 55 | 2.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,510 | 76.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 50 | 2.5% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 155 | 7.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 155 | 7.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
630Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | -0.2% |
| Kootenay | 10 | -0.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 530 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | -3.6% |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 70 | 1.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 30 | 0.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Construction | 510 |
| Manufacturing | 70 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 20 |
| Wholesale Trade | 10 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10 |
Resources
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BC Building Tradeswww.bcbuildingtrades.org
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BC Ironworkers Local 97www.ironworkerslocal97.com
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British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA)www.bccassn.com
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Construction Maintenance and Allied Workers Canadawww.cmaw.ca
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International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 191www.boilermakers.org/local/191
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Ironworkers Shop Local 712www.ironworkers712.com
Career Videos
Watch the video below to learn what a typical day is like for an ironworker.
Watch the video below to learn what a typical day is like for an ironworker.
