Employment of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights is projected to grow 16 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will vary by occupation.

Employment of industrial machinery mechanics is projected to grow 18 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The increased adoption of sophisticated manufacturing machinery will require more mechanics to keep machines in good working order.

Employment of machinery maintenance workers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Increased automation, including the use of many computer-controlled machines in factories and manufacturing plants, should raise the demand for machinery maintenance workers in order to keep the machines operating well.

Employment of millwrights is projected to grow 15 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The increased use of machinery in manufacturing will require millwrights to install and disassemble this equipment, as well as perform some repair work on it.

Job Prospects

Overall, applicants with a broad range of skills in machine repair are expected to have good job prospects as older workers retire or otherwise leave the occupation.

Those who complete apprenticeships and educational programs designed for industrial machinery repair should have the best job prospects.