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Footwear Worker
Also known as Shoemaker.
Footwear workers make shoes, boots and sandals using hand and machine tools.
The footwear industry has become more mechanised and raw material passes through many stages before the finished article is produced. Different sets of specialised skills are required for each stage of production.
PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS
- enjoy practical and manual activities
- able to perform precise and detailed work
- good eyesight (may be corrected)
- normal colour vision
Interest Area
SPECIALISATIONS
Clicker - cuts pieces of leather or other material from patterns to form the upper parts of a shoe using a clicking press. Materials may be cut by hand in small factories.
Footwear Finisher - trims, inks, polishes, sands and applies the maker's name.
Footwear Machinist - uses various machines to stitch the upper parts of shoes and may decorate with stitching or punched holes.
Footwear Maker - assembles all types of footwear either by hand or machine. Uppers are attached to soles and heels by nailing, tacking, stitching, gluing or injection moulding.
Pattern Maker - designs and cuts a heavy paper pattern for a sample model shoe by hand or computer. Multiple copies are made from the master pattern to produce a range of shoes in different sizes and colours.
Stuffcutter - cuts the bottom sections of the shoes, which includes the soles, heels and insoles, using a clicking press.
Tableworker - prepares the uppers for the machinist to sew together and cleans, polishes and packs the completed item of footwear.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
You can work as a footwear worker without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job.
You can also become a footwear worker through an apprenticeship or traineeship in Footwear Production, Footwear Production (Intermediate/Multiple or Complex Processes) or Custom-made Footwear.
Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.
Additional Information
Once you are employed, you may be able to develop, and have recognised, additional skills under the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Training Package that will expand your career opportunities within this industry.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Footwear workers are employed by shoe manufacturers. Most footwear establishments are small, employing fewer than 50 people.
With experience and further training, it is possible to progress to technical or supervisory levels. You may also be able to move into areas of footwear design or into other areas of the footwear industry.
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