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Copier Careers: Demand for Service Techs Surges, but Supply Down

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According to a survey from Copier Careers, a copier-industry recruitment firm, demand for copier technicians “continues to surge, while the pool of qualified hybrid techs has dwindled. And there is no relief in sight.”

Copier Careers says one reason behind lower supply is a historically low U.S. unemployment rate, which stood at 3.6 percent in April, the lowest since 1969’s 2.5 percent.

“Our industry has always been very close to a zero-unemployment environment,” said Paul Schwartz, president of Copier Careers. “But it’s tighter now, because this industry is growing — and it’s not doing a good job of building a back bench.”

For its 17th annual 2019 Copier Technician Salary Survey, Copier Careers surveyed 4,785 copier techs from across the industry (an increase of 45 respondents from 2018).

Among the results: 76-percent of respondents said they are looking for a new job.

Average salary is $48,590, up about $1,200 from the previous year.

Low Job Satisfaction

While 51 percent of respondents said they are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their total compensation, only 22 percent rated themselves as “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their job overall.

Seventy-six percent of those who took the survey said they are “actively” or “somewhat” looking for a new job, an increase of 4 percentage points over 2018. And 92 percent of respondents say they are looking for work because there are opportunities “too good to pass up,” an increase of 3 percentage points over last year’s survey.

“If a company has a toxic company culture, you couldn’t pay me enough to endure that,” said one technician in an online poll. “Work environment is more important than compensation.”

“The personnel shortage is an issue, and it will hurt your business unless you stay proactive,” commented Paul Schwartz, president of Copier Careers.

Responses to this year’s survey show that techs expect to stay in their current job for only about three years. Respondents reported staying only 2.5 years with their last employer. The incoming talent pool is said to be nearly empty. Said Schwartz: “It’s time for employers to step up to fill the gap.”

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