Bindery Workers

Employers

The majority of the 41,400 bindery and finishing workers in the United States are employed in commercial printing plants. In addition, a large number of bindery workers work in bindery trade shops. These shops provide binding services for printers without binderies or printers with too much binding work to complete on their own. Bindery work is done in printing plants, which may be located in out-of-the-way places where materials and labor are cheaper.

Starting Out

Information on apprenticeships and training opportunities is available through state employment offices, binderies, or local chapters of printing industry associations.

People who want to start working first and learn their skills on the job should contact potential employers directly, especially if they want to work in a small nonunion bindery. Openings for trainee positions may be listed with one's state employment office, through employment Web sites, and in newspaper classified sections. Trade school graduates may find jobs through their school's career services office, and industry association offices often run job listing services.