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Scaffolding workers (tobishoku)

How to become a Scaffolder

Official title: Scaffolder (Tobi)

Also called: Scaffold erector, Bridge rigger, Building rigger, Heavy load rigger, Steel erector, Tobi (construction rigger)

Erects and dismantles scaffolding and other temporary structures and moves heavy loads on building sites for houses, buildings, bridges, motorways and dams.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school or less than 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. Tobi work covers many areas, such as erecting scaffolding, assembling formwork supports, earth retaining supports, excavation, steel erection, assembling timber buildings and demolishing concrete structures. In each area, beginners join as apprentices and work for a number of years while gaining the relevant work chief qualifications before working on their own. Gaining the first or second grade tobi qualification in the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare marks you as a fully skilled worker. The job needs teamwork, nimble movement and sound judgement, and you may not get by without basic knowledge of mechanics and some knowledge of trades such as carpentry and plastering.

Ways in

Pay · Job openings · AI and this job

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Scaffolder?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Tobi work covers many areas, such as erecting scaffolding, assembling formwork supports, earth retaining supports, excavation, steel erection, assembling timber buildings and demolishing concrete structures. In each area, beginners join as apprentices and work for a number of years while gaining the relevant work chief qualifications before working on their own. Gaining the first or second grade tobi qualification in the ginou kentei (national trade skills test) run by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare marks you as a fully skilled worker. The job needs teamwork, nimble movement and sound judgement, and you may not get by without basic knowledge of mechanics and some knowledge of trades such as carpentry and plastering.

How much does a Scaffolder 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 Scaffolder?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 4% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: National trade skills test (技能検定).

Will AI change the work of a Scaffolder?

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