Road worker
Help build and repair roads and motorways to make sure travel is easy and safe for the public.
Also known as: highways operative
About the job
What it's like
You would help build and repair roads and motorways to make sure travel is easy and safe for the public.
You would:
Build, widen and resurface roads
Fix potholes and cracks
Lay pavements and kerbs
Maintain roadside verges and central reservations
Paint road markings
Put up crash barriers, road signs, traffic lights and street lamps
Dig trenches for cable and pipe laying
Grit roads and clear snow in winter
Use hand tools such as picks and shovels
Use power tools and machinery such as pneumatic drills and road rollers
Manage traffic and pedestrians close to work sites
You would have to understand health and safety rules, and follow them carefully.
Hours
You would normally work around 37 hours a week, often starting early. You may have to work overtime, including evenings, nights and weekends, in order to minimise disruption to traffic.
Environment
You would work in all weather conditions and the work is noisy, dirty and physically tough. Your employer would provide you with ear protectors, a hard hat and safety boots.
Travel
You could be travelling from site to site, which may involve overnight stays away from home.
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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.
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.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- civil engineering
- snow plowing
- incident response
- construction engineering
- highway maintenance
- paving
- guarding
- iosh working safely
- chainsaws
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:
Practical Craft Skills
Skills for Work: Rural Skills
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role but most employers value a good general education including English and maths.
A Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence
Qualifications and experience that show practical skills such as Skills for Work Construction Crafts (SCQF level 4/5)
You need to be at least 18 years of age.
You may have to pass an aptitude test before entry.
You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent, pass a health and safety test to train or work on construction sites.
A driving licence is sometimes required.
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