Maintenance Jobs

There is always a need for someone to fill maintenance jobs, whether it's within a major company, a factory, a school, or a hospital. Because all buildings need upkeep, maintenance workers play in important role in keeping all aspects of a building functional, safe, and clean.

These workers are skilled at not just one or two things, but in multiple areas. They must know how to plumb, sand, hammer, make plaster, fix a variety of equipment, perform electrical wiring, maintain machines, fix roofs, doors, or windows, and operate air conditioning systems. They also maintain and repair specialized equipment and machinery found in cafeterias, laundries, hospitals, stores, offices, and factories.

The first step in building repair is to identify the problem. Are the lights out? Is there a leak? A strange smell? A faulty machine? Once the worker identifies the problem, the maintenance can began. Then the worker will choose his tools that will perform the job. He or she probably has a toolbox and a belt for convenience.

When performing maintenance jobs, the worker will often check blueprints, manuals, and catalogs when working with new equipment. Instruction or troubleshooting manuals are helpful guides.

When a repair worker needs a part, he or she will order it from a catalog, or they may keep a stockroom of parts. Commonplace items such as lightbulbs, screws, nuts, plaster, and tools will most likely always be in abundance.

The maintenance worker often follows a daily checklist when ascertaining what work there is to do. He may inspect drives, motors, and belts, check fluid levels, replace filters, and perform other maintenance actions. Maintenance and repair workers keep records of their work.

The maintenance worker does the bulk of repairs in a building, but sometimes a person who specializes in a certain machine must be called in to perform repairs. Often the manufacturer of a machine will send out workers to perform these types of repairs.

Other duties include fixing switches, repairing motors, greasing and lubing parts, adding oil, repairing faulty wiring, and unclogging drains. They may walk the building two or three times a day searching for repairs to make. Typically the maintenance worker cleans up his own debris, sweeps the floor, and puts away his tools.

General maintenance and repair workers held about 1.4 million jobs in 2008. They were employed in almost every industry. Around 18 percent worked in manufacturing industries, while about 11 percent worked for government.

Job opportunities within the maintenance segment of the job market are abundant and will grow even more.  According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment of general maintenance and repair workers is expected to grow 11 percent during the 2008-18 decade, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment is related to the number of office and apartment buildings, stores, schools, hospitals, hotels, and factories and the amount of equipment needing maintenance and repair.

Some buildings can be monitored remotely, which reduces the need for maintenance workers. But overall the outlook for growth is very positive.