Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

The occupation "Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers" has an automation risk of 23.4%, which is only slightly lower than its base risk of 23.8%. This indicates a modest but real likelihood of certain tasks within this field being automated in the foreseeable future. The core of this risk arises from the fact that many tasks performed by these workers are repetitive, mechanical, or diagnostic in nature—traits which are susceptible to automation through advances in robotics, sensors, and AI-driven diagnostic systems. For example, routine inspections of wiring connections, control panel hookups, and the alignments and clearances of elevator cars and hoistways are becoming increasingly compatible with automated sensors and computer vision systems, reducing the need for human oversight in these areas. Among the most automatable tasks are inspecting wiring connections and alignments, assembling, installing, repairing, and maintaining elevators and escalators with common hand and power tools and testing devices, and disassembling defective units to repair or replace components like locks, gears, cables, and wiring. These activities often involve standardized procedures, precise measurements, and repetitive troubleshooting, all of which can be increasingly streamlined by robots or AI-assisted machinery. Automation can enhance efficiency and safety by enabling round-the-clock performance of inspections and repairs, especially in controlled environments where access, lighting, and ergonomics can be optimized for machines. However, not all aspects of the job are equally automatable—certain tasks remain highly resistant to full automation due to their complexity and requirement for adaptability and manual dexterity. For example, cutting prefabricated sections of framework and other components to custom dimensions, assembling motorized stairs and complex steel frameworks, and securing steel rails to shaft walls via bolting or welding all require on-site problem solving and nuanced manipulation of materials, sometimes in cramped or variable conditions. The bottleneck skill limiting further automation in this occupation is originality, rated at just 2.8%. This low figure suggests that while routine and repetitive tasks may be handed off to machines, human workers are still vital for tasks demanding improvisation, custom fitting, and creative solutions in unpredictable or complex situations.