Shoemaking machine operator

#58Declining

4/5

Key facts

−5.2%jobs, 2025 to 2035

United States

This job is declining in the United States. AI exposure: very low according to the ILO, low according to the BLS. Employment change in the United States by 2035: −5.2% (BLS). Future-proof jobs use similar skills: see "What next?".

The job

Shoemaking and related machine operators (ISCO 8156). Shoemaking and related machine operators monitor and operate machines which produce and repair standard or special footwear, handbags and other accessories, mainly made of leather.

Page built from official classifications (ILO, ESCO); figures cover all the jobs grouped here.

136 job titles linked to this page

Titles from the European ESCO classification. They are also used for search.

arch cushion press operator
arch-cushion-press operator
automated cutting machine operator
automated cutting machine tender
automated cutting system operator
automatic cutting machine operator
automatic cutting machine tender
automatic cutting system operator
automatic footwear cutting clicker
belts & handles cutting machine attendant
belts & handles cutting machine operator
belts & handles cutting machine tender
belts and handles cutting machine attendant
belts and handles cutting machine operator
belts and handles cutting machine tender
belts cutting machine operator
bevel cutting machine operator
bevel cutting machine tender
binding stitcher
boot and shoe clicker
bottom stock manufacturing machine operator
bottoms cutting machine operator
burnisher
burnishing machine operator
burnishing machine tender
cutting machine operator
cutting machine tender
cutting operative
cutting operator
cutting operator for footwear bottoms
cutting operator for linings and other materials
edge inker
edge-inking machine operator
edge-inking machine tender
edge-painting machine operator
edge-painting machine tender
footwear clicker
footwear machine tender
footwear maintenance technician
footwear production cutting machine operator
footwear production machine cutter
footwear production machine operator
footwear production machine sewer
footwear production machine tender
footwear production machinist
footwear production sewer
footwear production sewing machine operator
footwear stitching machine operator
gluing operator
handles cutting machine operator
heel nailing machine operator
heel nailing machine tender
insole and heel stiffener
insole beveler
laster
lasting machine operator
lasting machine tender
lasting room machine operator
lasting-machine operator
leather goods automated cutting machine operator
leather goods automated cutting system operator
leather goods automatic cutting system operator
leather goods cutting attendant for linings and other materials
leather goods cutting machine tender
leather goods cutting operator for linings and other materials
leather goods cutting technician for linings and other materials
leather goods cutting technologist for linings and other materials
leather goods cutting worker for linings and other materials
leather goods machine cutting operator
leather goods machine operator
leather goods machine tender
leather goods maintenance technician
leather goods pre-stitching machine operator
leather production machine operator
leather production machinist
leather production worker
leather products machine operator
leather products machine tender
leather products machinist
leather sewing machine operator
linings and other materials cuting operator
linings and other materials cutting operaotr
linings and other materials cutting operator
machine cutting operator
machine puller and laster
pre-lasting operator
pre-stitching machine operator
shoe cementer
shoe clicker
shoe cuting machine operaotr
shoe cuting machine operator
shoe cutting machine operaotr
shoe cutting machine operator
shoe sewing machine operator
shoe sewing machine tender
shoe stitcher
shoemaking pre-stitching folding machine operator
shoemaking pre-stitching folding machine tender
shoemaking pre-stitching folding operator
shoo cuting machine operaotr
shoo cuting machine operator
shoo cutting machine operaotr
shoo cutting machine operator
shoo machine tender
shoo machine tendor
skiver
skiving machine operator
skiving machine tender
skiving operator
sole and heel operator
sole blacker
sole cementer
sole cuter
sole cutter
sole edge-inking operator
sole stitcher
sole trimer
sole trimmer
soul cuter
soul cutter
soul trimer
soul trimmer
stiffener moulder
toe puf moulder
triming machine operaotr
triming machine operativ
triming machine operative
triming machine operator
triming machine tender
triming machine tendor
trimming machine operaotr
trimming machine operativ
trimming machine operative
trimming machine operator
trimming machine tender
trimming machine tendor

What next?

Future-proof jobs that draw on skills close to this one. They are leads to explore, not an assessment of your profile.

ChangingTanner
ChangingFood production line operator

Indicative matches: at launch they will come from the skills listed in official occupational directories.

Gauges

Risk 4/5 · High

AI exposureLowBLS AI exposure category "low" (2026), higher than the ILO 2025 index (very low)

Employment outlookSharp declineBLS, 2025-2035 projections (Shoe machine operators and tenders; Shoe and leather workers and repairers; Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders (+2))

Hiring difficultyNot availableNo US indicator measures hiring difficulty job by job

PayLowBLS, 2025 median annual wage: $41,569

EntryQuickBLS, typical education needed for entry

No US indicator measures hiring difficulty job by job: this gauge stays empty. How countries are compared

Sources

AI exposure categories and employment projections, 2025-2035 (XLSX file)Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States · August 2026 · official statistics
Generative AI and Jobs: a refined global index of occupational exposureInternational Labour Organization and NASK · May 2025 · large survey
ESCO, European classification of skills, competences, qualifications and occupations (job titles and O*NET crosswalk)European Commission · version 1.2 · official statistics
EURES report on labour shortages and surpluses 2025, annexEuropean Labour Authority · June 2026 · official statistics

Checked on 27 October 2026.