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Textile machinery technician

Also called card fixer, card grinder, textile mechanic

Textile machinery technicians set up, maintain, inspect and repair mechanical and computer-controlled machinery used in textile manufacturing such as weaving, dyeing and finishing machines.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospectsShortage in 15 countries now. 17 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Metal, machinery and related trades workersWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,200 (Bulgaria) to €5,100 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Metal, machinery and related trades workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational7 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Metal, machinery and related trades workersWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers · ILO

What you'd do

Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers · ILO
  • Fitting, installing, examining, servicing and repairing engines, machinery and mechanical equipment
  • Oiling and greasing stationary engines and machinery
  • Inspecting and testing new machinery and mechanical equipment for conformity with standards and specifications
  • Disassembling machinery and equipment to remove parts and make repairs
  • Examining parts for defects such as breakage and excessive wear
  • Operating newly repaired machinery and equipment to verify the adequacy of repairs
  • Recording repairs and maintenance performed
Conduct routine machinery checksOperate soldering equipmentPerform maintenance on installed equipmentUse testing equipmentResolve equipment malfunctions+ 13 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people, mostly with colleagues
  • 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 "Industrial Machinery Mechanics"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

15 EU countries are short of agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers now, but fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as metal, machinery and related trades workers in the EU
7.34m7.68m7.01m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
1,868,000 replacing leavers 594,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Metal, machinery and related trades workers17
All jobs29
Right now
15 of 27 countries report a shortage of agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers, 3 a surplus.
Agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,200 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,100 (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 textiles (clothes, footwear and leather) is the usual route.

Highest qualification of metal, machinery and related trades workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 11%Vocational 62%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 21%
Fields that teach it
Textiles (clothes, footwear and leather) · Mechanics and metal trades
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 0.17 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
Inspecting and testing new machinery and mechanical equipment for conformity with standards and specifications0.23
Operating newly repaired machinery and equipment to verify the adequacy of repairs0.20
Recording repairs and maintenance performed0.20
Examining parts for defects such as breakage and excessive wear0.17
Fitting, installing, examining, servicing and repairing engines, machinery and mechanical equipment0.15
Oiling and greasing stationary engines and machinery0.13
Disassembling machinery and equipment to remove parts and make repairs0.12

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 agricultural and industrial machinery mechanics and repairers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).