Road worker
Help build and repair roads and motorways in a variety of locations. You'll keep the traffic flowing and make sure travel is easy and safe for the public.
Also known as: highways operative
About the job
What it's like
Would you like to play a part in keeping Scotland's roads safe and efficient? As a road worker you'll help build and repair roads and motorways to make sure travel is easy and safe for the public.
Your work could take you all over the country in a variety of locations, from motorways or busy city centres to remote rural areas.
Your tasks might include:
building, widening, resurfacing and painting roads
laying pavements and kerbs
maintaining roadside verges and central reservations
putting up crash barriers, road signs, traffic lights and street lamps
digging trenches for cable and pipe laying
gritting roads and clearing snow in winter
In your job you'll use lots of different hand tools and power tools, such as picks, shovels, pneumatic drills and road rollers.
Traffic and pedestrians are often close to your work sites. To protect them, and your team, you'll have to understand health and safety rules and follow them carefully.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Construction Skills Certification Scheme – learn more about CSCS cards
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking initiative
- managing resources
- concentrating
- problem solving
- resilience
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Practical Craft Skills
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Skills for Work: Rural Skills
Work
You can become a road worker through applying directly with an employer or getting an entry-level job and working your way up. Most employers value a good general education including English and maths.
Use the My World of Work job search to look for job vacancies.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Construction: Technical or Construction: Civil Engineering.
A Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence may come in handy.
All road workers must be at least 18 years old.
You may have to pass an aptitude test before entry.
You'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent.
You must pass a health and safety test to train or work on construction sites.
A driving licence is sometimes required.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Road worker'
