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- 70
- Computer and Office Machine Repairers
-
- (D.O.T. 633.261-010, -014, .281; 706.381-010 and -030; and
- 828.261-014)
-
- Nature of the Work
-
- Computer and office machine repairers install equipment, do
- preventive maintenance, and correct problems. Computer repairers
- work on computers (mainframes, minis, and micros), peripheral
- equipment, and word processing systems, while office machine
- repairers work on photocopiers, cash registers, mail processing
- equipment, and typewriters. Some repairers service both computer
- and office equipment. They make cable and wiring connections when
- installing equipment, and work closely with electricians, who
- install the wiring. (A description of the work of electricians can
- be found elsewhere in the Handbook.)
-
- Even with preventive maintenance, computers and other machines do
- break down. Repairers run diagnostic programs to locate
- malfunctions. Although some of the most modern and sophisticated
- computers have a self-diagnosing capacity that identifies problems,
- computer repairers must know enough about systems software to
- determine if the malfunction is in the hardware or in the software.
-
- Repairers run diagnostic programs to locate malfunctions.
-
- Employment
-
- Computer and office machine repairers held about 143,000 jobs in
- 1992. Approximately 83,000 worked mainly on computer equipment, and
- the other 60,000 repaired mainly office machines. Three of every
- five were employed by wholesalers of computers and other office
- equipment, including the wholesaling divisions of equipment
- manufacturers, and by firms that provide maintenance services for a
- fee. Others worked for retail establishments and some with
- organizations that serviced their own equipment.
-
- Repairers work throughout the country, even in relatively small
- communities. Most repairers, however, work in large cities, where
- computer and office equipment is concentrated.
-
- Job Outlook
-
- Employment of computer and office machine repairers is expected to
- grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year
- 2005. However, employment of repairers will grow less rapidly than
- the anticipated increase in the amount of equipment because of the
- improved reliability of computer and office machines and ease of
- repair.
-
- Employment of those who repair computers is expected to grow much
- faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for computer
- repairers will increase as the amount of computer equipment
- increases organizations throughout the economy should continue to
- automate in search of greater productivity and improved service.
- The development of new computer applications and lower computer
- prices, will also spur demand. More repairers will be needed to
- install, maintain, and repair these machines.
-
- Employment of those who repair office machines is expected to grow
- more slowly than the average for all occupations. Slow growth in
- the amount of non-computer-based office equipment will dampen the
- demand for these repairers.
-
- (See introductory part of this section for information on working
- conditions, training requirements, earnings, and sources of
- additional information.)
-