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Bindery operator

Also called binder, bookbinder, paper binder

Bindery operators tend machines that bind printed or unprinted paper into volumes using staples, twine, glue or other binding technologies.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects9 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Handicraft and printing workersWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,100 (Bulgaria) to €4,900 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Handicraft and printing workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational6 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Handicraft and printing workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Print finishing and binding workers · ILO

What you'd do

Print finishing and binding workers · ILO
  • Setting up and supervising the operation of automatic binding and finishing equipment
  • Binding full, half and limp-bound books, and repairing bindings
  • Folding, collating and sewing signatures by machine and hand
  • Operating paper guillotines for pre-press and post-press paper cutting and trimming, and programming electronically operated units
  • Operating systems to insert printed material into newspapers, magazines and envelopes
  • Embellishing printed products automatically and manually
  • Operating photographic and electronic reproduction devices
Follow safety precautions in printingFollow production scheduleSupply machineOperate binder machineMonitor automated machines+ 8 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Print Binding and Finishing Workers"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as handicraft and printing workers in the EU
1.02m893k739k 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
204,000 replacing leavers 126,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Handicraft and printing workers9
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of print finishing and binding workers, 4 a surplus.
Print finishing and binding workers · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,100 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,900 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training in materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) is the usual route.

Highest qualification of handicraft and printing workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 17%Vocational 48%General secondary 11%Basic schooling 24%
Fields that teach it
Materials (glass, paper, plastic and wood) · Wholesale and retail sales
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.22 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Operating photographic and electronic reproduction devices0.36
Setting up and supervising the operation of automatic binding and finishing equipment0.28
Embellishing printed products automatically and manually0.27
Operating systems to insert printed material into newspapers, magazines and envelopes0.18
Operating paper guillotines for pre-press and post-press paper cutting and trimming, and programming electronically operated units0.17
Folding, collating and sewing signatures by machine and hand0.14
Binding full, half and limp-bound books, and repairing bindings0.12

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for print finishing and binding workers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).