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How exposed to AI is a Maintenance and Repair Workers, General?

Of the 30 tasks O*NET lists for maintenance and repair workers, general, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 26 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Building MechanicEquipment Engineering TechnicianFacilities TechnicianMaintenance EngineerMaintenance JourneymanMaintenance ManMaintenance MechanicMaintenance SpecialistMaintenance TechnicianMaintenance Worker
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
30
tasks rated for this occupation
2%
hold a degree, from a survey of 58
1417k
people do this job in the US
24 of 50
least protected in installation and repair

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Only with software built on top

4
  • Diagnose mechanical problems and determine how to correct them, checking blueprints, repair manuals, or parts catalogs, as necessary
  • Design new equipment to aid in the repair or maintenance of machines, mechanical equipment, or building structures
  • Estimate costs to repair machinery, equipment, or building structures
  • Record type and cost of maintenance or repair work

Cannot be sped up

26
  • Perform routine maintenance, such as inspecting drives, motors, or belts, checking fluid levels, replacing filters, or doing other preventive maintenance actions
  • Inspect, operate, or test machinery or equipment to diagnose machine malfunctions
  • Adjust functional parts of devices or control instruments, using hand tools, levels, plumb bobs, or straightedges
  • Repair machines, equipment, or structures, using tools such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, wrenches, or equipment such as precision measuring instruments or electrical or electronic testing devices
  • Order parts, supplies, or equipment from catalogs or suppliers
  • Assemble, install, or repair wiring, electrical or electronic components, pipe systems, plumbing, machinery, or equipment
  • Clean or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, or other parts of machinery
  • Align and balance new equipment after installation
  • Maintain or repair specialized equipment or machinery located in cafeterias, laundries, hospitals, stores, offices, or factories
  • Dismantle machines, equipment, or devices to access and remove defective parts, using hoists, cranes, hand tools, or power tools
  • Plan and lay out repair work, using diagrams, drawings, blueprints, maintenance manuals, or schematic diagrams
  • Install equipment to improve the energy or operational efficiency of residential or commercial buildings
  • Set up and operate machine tools to repair or fabricate machine parts, jigs, fixtures, or tools
  • Perform general cleaning of buildings or properties
  • Train or manage maintenance personnel or subcontractors
  • Fabricate or repair counters, benches, partitions, or other wooden structures, such as sheds or outbuildings
  • Paint or repair roofs, windows, doors, floors, woodwork, plaster, drywall, or other parts of building structures
  • Perform routine maintenance on boilers, such as replacing burners or hoses, installing replacement parts, or reinforcing structural weaknesses to ensure optimal boiler efficiency
  • Test and treat water supply
  • Provide groundskeeping services, such as landscaping or snow removal
  • Operate cutting torches or welding equipment to cut or join metal parts
  • Inspect used parts to determine changes in dimensional requirements, using rules, calipers, micrometers, or other measuring instruments
  • Assemble boilers at installation sites, using tools such as levels, plumb bobs, hammers, torches, or other hand tools
  • Lay brick to repair or maintain buildings, walls, arches, or other structures
  • Position, attach, or blow insulating materials to prevent energy losses from buildings, pipes, or other structures or objects
  • Grind and reseat valves, using valve-grinding machines
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.