Chapter 2 Career Opportunities in Electronics 23 In many businesses, computers can complete complex tasks in only a few seconds, when that same task may have taken a person several hours to complete. Electronics has also entered the fi eld of medicine. Using laser technology, surgeons can now perform surgery without cutting any skin. With each new device that is developed, highly skilled technicians must be trained to maintain and service it. Th e need for people with electronics training will continue to grow into the next century. 2.2.1 Types of Electronics Industries In most industries, there are two types of electronics businesses: those that sell products and those that sell services. Some businesses combine the business of sales and service. In nearly every industry today, there is some job that requires the skill of an electrician or an electronics technician. Th e automotive industry, the manufacturing industry, the processing industry, and others have become dependent on electrically based processes and equipment. In addition, each of these industries have become dependent on at least a basic-level computer technician. Nearly all of the products and services we use today include some sort of computer, microcontroller, or part that requires a skilled service technician to repair or replace. Th e electronics fi eld is growing constantly and quickly. Goods-producing businesses sell physical products, such as books, steel, or cars. Th ese products can be seen and touched. Th ey are tangible. Electronic goods include such things as resistors, capacitors, televisions, tablets, and computers. Service-producing businesses provide useful labor that results in a need or want being satisfi ed. Electronic services include installation, maintenance, repair, and updating of electronic systems, such as computers and Wi-Fi routers. See Figure 2-3. Th e products that these businesses sell are intangible. Th e United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment has been shifting from goods-producing industries to service-producing industries. Th ey estimate that nearly four out of fi ve jobs in industry provide services. Th e electronics service industry continues to grow, Figure 2-4. 2.2.2 Careers In both goods-producing and service-producing electronics industries, four general classes of workers exist: semiskilled, skilled, technical, and professional. In addition to these four types, there are also the entrepreneurs. Th ese are people who run their own businesses. Career opportunities exist in all of these areas. Th e training needed to perform jobs in each of these areas varies. Likewise, employment outlooks and salaries vary. Semiskilled Workers Semiskilled workers perform jobs that do not require a high level of training. Th ese workers are most often found working on assembly lines. Most semiskilled jobs are limited to a certain type and number of tasks. Th ese tasks are often simple and repetitive (repeated). In general, semiskilled work is routine. Advanced study and training are required to move up from a semiskilled position. Th ere are very few electronics jobs done by semiskilled workers. Suwin/Shutterstock.com Figure 2-2. With the supervision of an engineer, this automated robot performs work on an industrial production line. Golubovy/Shutterstock.com Figure 2-3. There are many high-tech jobs in the service fi eld. This technician is carefully repairing a computer motherboard. Vlad Teodor/Shutterstock.com Figure 2-4. The widespread use of electronics in our daily lives requires numerous technicians with the ability to repair essential devices, such as cell phones. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.