Office Equipment Technician

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

• 2242: Electronic Service Technicians (Household and Business Equipment)

2006 NOC-S

• C142: Electronic Service Technicians (Household and Business Equipment)

2011 NOC

• 2242: Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)

2016 NOC

• 2242: Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)

2021 NOC

• 22311: Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)

2023 OaSIS

• 22311.00: Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)

Office equipment technicians may specialize in one type of machine or work on different machines.

Technicians who work for business machine manufacturers and dealers typically service only the brands their company offers. They routinely visit customers with service contracts to:

• Inspect machines for unusual wear
• Replace worn or broken parts
• Troubleshoot problems with equipment and networks
• Advise customers on how to use equipment properly and spot potential problems
• Clean, oil, and adjust machines to ensure optimum operation

When breakdowns occur, office equipment technicians must respond quickly. They must determine the cause of the malfunction and repair it. If it’s not repairable, they must replace the machine quickly to minimize disruption to office routines.

Office equipment technicians who work for small independent repair organizations must know how to repair several types of business machines. In general, they:

• Provide a range of maintenance and repair services, including diagnostics, removal, installation, and retrofitting of multifunctional office and production copiers, printers, and fax machines
• Install basic connections, such as setting up Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, downloading printer drivers, and training office workers on functions such as scan to email or to folder
• Perform troubleshooting procedures and repair or replace equipment components as needed
• Maintain and manage parts inventory

Office equipment technicians often work in office settings and are expected to wear business clothes. They use electronic meters and other electrical testing equipment as well as hand tools such as pliers and screwdrivers. They may need to travel from one service call to another and do some heavy lifting. There are few hazards in the occupation. However, the work can be stressful when customers are impatient.

Office equipment technicians tend to work standard office hours. Some technicians must be on call for after-hours emergency repairs. Some jobs require out-of-town travel.

Office machine technicians work for:

• Firms that sell or service business machines
• Equipment manufacturers
• Independent repair shops
• Organizations large enough to have on-staff maintenance and repair crews

Experienced office equipment technicians may advance to supervisory, management, or training positions. Some open independent repair shops of their own.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

In the 2242: Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment) occupational group, 75.7% of people work in:

• Retail Trade
• Other Services
• Wholesale Trade
• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Construction
• Information, Culture, and Recreation
• Management, Administrative, and Other Support

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

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Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

• Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation
• Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, the 2242: Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment) occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.7% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 116 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

As technology evolves, more and more functions are being integrated into a single machine. For example, one machine can photocopy, scan, print and send faxes. Machines also are becoming easier to install, operate, and maintain. These trends may have a negative impact on future demand for office equipment technicians.

Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) website: www.comptia.org

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