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| Laundry and Dry Cleaning
Machine Operators and Workers |
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| Employment Increase: |
46% |
| People In Field: |
237,000 |
| Average Salary: |
$11,445 |
| Qualifications: |
High School, Training |
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Nature of the Work:
Laundry and dry cleaning workers are employed by
businesses that dry clean or wash and press clothing,
bedclothes, curtains, and drapes. At smaller shops, one person
performs several aspects of the work. Job descriptions are more
specialized at larger shops. The categories of work performed
include salesclerks and cashiers who greet incoming customers
and write their orders up on claim tickets and tally their
bills; people who mark the garments with the names of the
customers; sorters who weigh and separate items depending on
how they will be processed; spotters who pre-treat stains;
dry cleaners who run machines that clean clothes with
chemicals; pressers or finishers who use machines or
hand-operated equipment to put creases into clothes made from durable
or fragile materials; washing machine operators who pile
items into machines set properly for the fabrics being cleaned
and can process hundreds of pounds of fabric in one load;
extractor operators who put washed clothes into machines that
remove much of the remaining water through centrifugal
force; inspectors who approve the work that has been done;
and baggers who finish the processing.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement:
Dealing with many people every day is part of the jobs
at local retail shops, and the ability to handle a wide range
of situations is a plus. People who run cash registers need to
have at least basic math skills. People who operate complex
machinery must be able to read well enough to understand
the training materials they will be given. There is some
unionization in these jobs, but it is usually limited to jobs at the
largest institutions. The Laundry and Dry Cleaning
International Union and the International Fabricare Institute are sources
of information about opportunities and training in these fields.
Job Outlook:
This industry will be growing as fast as average
overall. Hotels, motels, hospitals, restaurants, and other large
institutions create a need for large scale industrial laundries.
The better the economy is, the more people there will be
who don't have time to do their own wash, creating jobs in
this industry. It is estimated that by 2005 there will be
approximately 237,000 laundry and dry cleaning machine
operators and workers.
Sources of Additional Information:
For more information about employment opportunities
in these areas, contact the town, city, county, or state
employment department near you.
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