The Makers

The Makers work with their hands as they monitor, build, fix, grow, and maintain

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Meet the Makers

The Makers are busy people who keep everything up and running. There are few desk jobs in this Cluster; most Makers can be found using specialised equipment, moving between worksites, and using their technical skills alongside their specialised knowledge.

As the world of work continues to evolve, we expect that some Makers will move from repetitive, hands-on work towards roles where they monitor, maintain, and operate the complex machinery that replaces them.

Makers keep our systems running

Whether they’re operating physical equipment or maintaining technical systems, Makers are responsible for ensuring the physical things we use and the places where we live and work run as they should.

Makers tend to fall into one of a few categories – some construct buildings or grow crops – essentially creating something from scratch. Others operate sophisticated equipment to achieve an outcome, for example as an airline pilot, and some Makers maintain systems and spaces.

You'll find Makers in all our most essential jobs

We couldn’t survive without Makers – without them we wouldn’t be able to buy food, find shelter, or travel. They keep our cars running, stock shelves, clean our public spaces, fly our planes, and keep the wifi running.

Makers are experts at monitoring their systems and equipment, and are often responsible for collecting and reviewing data using software. They generally need to be able to work independently, and are also responsible for keeping themselves and their workplaces safe.

Makers are our 'doers'

They are the people who get things done. They value resilience and hard work, and are generally adaptable and reliable.

Makers take on a huge range of diverse roles, and, provided they keep their skillset up to date, they can often transfer their skills and experience to other roles when needed. Further on in their career, Makers may find themselves moving towards a Coordinator role as they start to manage teams of Makers, or even decide to start their own business.

Makers are skilled technicians

As the world of work continues to be come more technologically advanced, Makers will need to combine their traditional, hands-on skillsets with the ability to operate more complex technical equipment.

Many Makers are highly skilled in the tools and equipment they need to do their job, and they also have advanced safety skills which keep them safe even on hazardous worksites.

They are also often responsible for highly complicated (and expensive) mechanical and digital equipment, which they need to be able to safely operate and maintain.

Where do Makers work?

Makers work in a variety of locations, depending on their industry, which may include industrial and commercial sites, in retail and hospitality, on large and small building projects, on farms and in agricultural settings, or as tradespeople in residential homes.

You’ll find Makers just about everywhere; from cleaning scientific research stations in the Antarctic to install fencing around lion enclosures in the zoo. They work as groundskeepers in schools, as chefs in elite restaurants, and as crane operators in busy ports.

Check out these Makers

Katherine Sabbath

Baker

Katherine creates cakes and confections for clients, and she also fits into the Innovator Cluster as a cook book author and influencer

Darren Miller

Air Traffic Controller

Darren operates complex technical equipment such as control panels, radar feeds, and radio communications to keep air traffic moving

Jennah Halley

Refrigeration Technician

Jennah uses her training to install and maintain air conditioning units in homes and businesses and commercial cooling units in restaurants

Jobs for Makers

Many jobs in this Cluster require a medium to high level of skill, although there are a number of entry-level jobs that require very little training but these tend to require more manual, hands-on labour.