Binding and finishing machine operators work for:
- Digital print shops
- Trade binderies
- Large organizations with in-house printing, binding, and finishing departments
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Publishing companies
Many binderies have a small core staff and hire extra staff on a temporary basis to meet contract deadlines.
Newly hired machine operators usually start training on simpler or lighter equipment. As they gain experience, they train on more complex equipment. Machine operators with experience running a variety of machines may become supervisors.
In Alberta, 94% of people employed as binding and finishing machine operators work in the Manufacturing [pdf] industry.
The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
- Trends and events affecting overall employment in the Manufacturing industry
- Location in Alberta
- Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
- Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
- Size of the occupation
In Alberta, the 9473: Binding and finishing machine operators occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 0 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.