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Steel reinforcement workers

How to become a Reinforcing Ironworker

Also called: Building reinforcing ironworker, Civil works reinforcing ironworker

Cuts, bends and assembles the cage of steel reinforcing bars that forms the frame of reinforced concrete structures.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say less than high school or high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Job openings for new graduates are sent to high schools and senmon gakko (vocational colleges), and people are also hired through Hello Work (public employment service) and job websites. Some people move from other jobs after seeing advertisements in newspapers or job magazines. Machines and heavy equipment mean less heavy work in cutting and fixing, but you handle heavy materials, so a certain level of fitness is needed. A related qualification is the reinforcement work exam in the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which serves as proof of skill. Government projects above a certain size require a first-grade certified worker on site at all times, so some companies pay an allowance for the qualification. Holding the first grade is an advantage if you want to lead a site as a foreman or group leader.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Reinforcing Ironworker?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Job openings for new graduates are sent to high schools and senmon gakko (vocational colleges), and people are also hired through Hello Work (public employment service) and job websites. Some people move from other jobs after seeing advertisements in newspapers or job magazines. Machines and heavy equipment mean less heavy work in cutting and fixing, but you handle heavy materials, so a certain level of fitness is needed. A related qualification is the reinforcement work exam in the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, which serves as proof of skill. Government projects above a certain size require a first-grade certified worker on site at all times, so some companies pay an allowance for the qualification. Holding the first grade is an advantage if you want to lead a site as a foreman or group leader.

How much does a Reinforcing Ironworker earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥4,145,100 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Building frame workers (formwork, scaffolding, reinforcing), which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Reinforcing Ironworker?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 5% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Reinforcing Ironworker?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026