Where a shoemaker can go next
5 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a shoemaker already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Shoemakers use hand or machine operations for traditional manufacturing of a various range of footwear. They also repair all types of footwear in a repair shop.
Also known as custom shoemaker, cobbler, hand craft shoe maker, shoe repairer, traditional shoe manufacturer.
Craft and related trades workers 23 skills on file 5 career moves 5 above 60% overlap Closest: sole and heel operator, 79%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 1 · Within reach
- sole and heel operator 79% covered · difficulty 21.7
- bespoke footwear technician 76% covered · difficulty 30.1
- lasting machine operator 75% covered · difficulty 27.4
- footwear stitching machine operator 74% covered · difficulty 25.8
- footwear finishing and packing operator 71% covered · difficulty 27.3
Table 2 · What the job itself asks for
A shoemaker needs 17 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- create patterns for footwear handling and moving
- perform pattern grading handling and moving
- apply footwear uppers pre-assembling techniques handling and moving
- cut footwear uppers handling and moving
- apply footwear bottoms pre-assembling techniques handling and moving
- apply assembling techniques for cemented footwear construction handling and moving
- apply footwear finishing techniques handling and moving
- apply stitching techniques working with machinery and specialised equipment
- manual cutting processes for leather engineering, manufacturing and construction
- apply pre-stitching techniques working with machinery and specialised equipment
Table 3 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a shoemaker does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
- footwear production technician 77% covered · difficulty 25.8
- hand lasting operator 75% covered · difficulty 27.3
- lasting machine operator 75% covered · difficulty 27.3
- footwear production machine operator 67% covered · difficulty 36
- sole and heel operator 65% covered · difficulty 37.8
- footwear finishing and packing operator 54% covered · difficulty 47.7
- shoe repairer 42% covered · difficulty 58.6
Look up another occupation
Shoemaker is filed under Craft and related trades workers, ISCO major group 7. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a shoemaker’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.