Maintenance Planning and Operational Strategies
Develop maintenance plans and implement operational strategies to ensure equipment reliability and minimize downtime.
Skill demand · ONS UK online job adverts
How common is manufacturing and fabrication?
This requirement appears in 29.3% of UK new online job adverts in 2025. Its share rose by 2.0 percentage points compared with 2024.
The latest year is partial. Comparisons with full years need care. 2026 figures have not been published yet.Share of new adverts29.3%UK · 2025
Change in share+2.0 pp2024 to 2025
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What this skill category covers
Official detailed requirements in this ONS group
Production Planning and Manufacturing Operations
Manage production planning and manufacturing operations to optimize efficiency and meet quality standards.
Material Handling and Industrial Processes
Operate material handling systems and manage industrial processes to ensure safe and efficient production workflows.
Electronic Assembly and Soldering Techniques
Perform electronic assembly and soldering processes to build and maintain reliable electronic components.
Manufacturing Processes and Production Methods
Manage manufacturing processes and apply production methods to ensure efficiency and product quality.
Packaging Processes and Material Handling
Manage packaging processes and apply material handling techniques to ensure product safety and compliance with industry standards.
Tooling Assembly and Front-End Processes
Perform tooling assembly and manage front-end processes for engineering and sales.
Measurement Standard Knowledge
Understanding of standards for measurement accuracy and consistency.
Machining and Metalworking Processes
Perform machining and metalworking operations using conventional and computer-controlled techniques to fabricate precision components.
Welding and Cutting Processes
Perform welding, cutting, and material joining techniques to fabricate and maintain metal and polymer components.
Inspection Processes and Equipment Assessment
Manage inspection processes and assess equipment to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
Surface Treatment and Coating Processes
Apply surface preparation, coating, and finishing techniques to enhance durability and quality of industrial materials.
ONS Table 1 detailed requirements · SCO23.12. Shares can overlap because an advert may mention several requirements.
Roles that often need this skill category
Occupations where manufacturing and fabrication appears most often in UK new adverts
| # | Occupation | Share of occupation adverts | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welding trades Example titles: Welding engineer · Arc welder · Co2 welder · Gas burner | 98.2% | |
| 2 | Electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers Example titles: Service mechanic · Service man · Fax engineer · Service fitter | 93.2% | |
| 3 | Air-conditioning and refrigeration installers and repairers Example titles: Refrigeration engineer · Service engineer · Refrigerator maker · Refrigeration mechanic | 92.8% | |
| 4 | Groundsmen and greenkeepers Example titles: Greenkeeper · Turf layer · Turf cutter · Turf digger | 91.3% | |
| 5 | Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) Example titles: Electronic assembler · Cap fixer · Fan maker · Bulb maker | 88.6% | |
| 6 | Steel erectors Example titles: Steel erector · Iron worker · Iron fighter · Steel worker | 88.3% | |
| 7 | Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services Example titles: Forestry manager · Stud manager · Cattery owner · Kennels owner | 87.0% | |
| 8 | Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers Example titles: Canner · Bag tier · Box hand · Tare man | 86.8% | |
| 9 | Metal working production and maintenance fitters Example titles: Metal fitter · Fly maker · Gig maker · Gun smith | 86.8% | |
| 10 | Plant and machine operatives n.e.c. Example titles: Machine oiler · Saw man · Box maker · Compo man | 84.9% |
How related skills compare
Skills within Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering
| # | Skill | Share of adverts | Change (pp) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing and Fabrication Selected skill · Maintenance Planning and Operational Strategies · Production Planning and Manufacturing Operations · Material Handling and Industrial Processes | 29.3% | +2.0 pp | |
| 2 | Engineering and Manufacturing Prototyping and Product Demonstration · Manufacturing Engineering and Design Processes · Technical Drawing and Blueprint Interpretation | 20.9% | +2.6 pp | |
| 3 | Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Mechatronic Engineering Knowledge · Hydraulics and Fluid Power Skills · Pump Technologies | 3.1% | +0.2 pp | |
| 4 | Manufacturing and Metrology Dimensional Quality Control Technique Skills | 1.5% | +0.1 pp | |
| 5 | Manufacturing and Industrial Processes Forging and Metal Forming Techniques · Industrial Drying Processes · Surface Preparation Technique Skills | 0.5% | 0.0 pp | |
| 6 | Industrial Safety and Compliance IOSH Safety Certification · Explosion Protection Compliance Standard Knowledge · Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response | 0.2% | -0.3 pp | |
| 7 | Industrial Automation and Control IEC Electrical Safety Standard Knowledge · CNC Control System Skills · Industrial Standards and Architecture Framework Knowledge | 0.1% | 0.0 pp | |
| 8 | Packaging and Security Sealing Technologies | 0.1% | 0.0 pp | |
| 9 | Industrial Engineering and Pneumatics Compressed Air System Skills | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 10 | Quality Management Engineering Concept Knowledge · Quality Control Concept Knowledge | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 11 | Consumer Goods and Laboratory Equipment Glassware Product Knowledge | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 12 | Engineering Design and Automation Electrical Design Software · CMS and Electrical Design Tools | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 13 | Manufacturing and CNC Machining CNC Programming Skills (Mazatrol) | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 14 | Industrial and Engineering Systems Safety Interlock and Industrial Stitching Knowledge | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 15 | Engineering and Quality Assurance Formal Verification and Consistency Testing · Non-Destructive Testing Certification | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 16 | Mechanical and Materials Science Cryogenic Engineering Knowledge | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 17 | Electrical and Welding Engineering Electric Arc Concepts | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 18 | Plumbing and Industrial Systems Copper Tubing Applications | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 19 | Manufacturing and Packaging Industrial Filling Systems | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 20 | Manufacturing and Machinery Machine Pedal Operation Techniques | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 21 | Manufacturing and Product Development Concurrent Engineering Process Skills | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 22 | Mining and Industrial Engineering Gold Mining Techniques | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 23 | Mechanical and Security Systems Locking Mechanism Design | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 24 | Manufacturing and Consumer Products | 0.0% | 0.0 pp |
About these figures
How to interpret skill demand
Source: Office for National Statistics, UK online job adverts. Shares describe new adverts reporting the requirement. An advert may mention several skills, so their shares do not add up to 100%. A rise from 10% to 12% is an increase of 2 percentage points.
These figures do not establish a salary premium, proficiency level, or which skills are requested together. This page has no published skill-specific salary or location breakdown.
ONS · 2025 · partial year · 2026 figures have not been published yet. · Open Government Licence v3.0. ONS does not endorse Jobmundo.