What does the future hold for the US Locksmiths

With the increased popularity of keyless entry systems, many people have begun to wonder what the future holds for the locksmith profession. While it’s difficult to say what will happen in the coming years, it’s likely that locksmiths will need to update their skillset by learning other related trades. Professional studies warn that the job market is shrinking even more quickly than before, with a forecasted negative 3.1% decrease in jobs by 2026. Some are more specific and estimate the decrease to leave the US with 28,700 professional locksmiths across the following specialized areas:

• Safe technician
• Forensic locksmith
• Electronic lock specialist
• Security consultant 
• Master key specialist.

Currently, the locksmith market has a very low employability rate and this might last for a while. It is a profession that has been around for a while, reports showed that about 4000 locksmiths retired recently in the US. Consequently, the country is expected to need about 3,300 locksmiths to make up for the gap in the next 10 years. However, there are other factors contributing to a decreasing need for locksmith services.

With the fast rate of technological advancement, even an average household in the United States would rather go for electronic and computerized security systems than mechanical ones. It’s quite disturbing to also note that little or no expansion is expected to be experienced in the industry in the coming years, but there’s still a chance for young folks to thrive in this industry. Residential and commercial infrastructures will always need security systems, but the kind that fits into the modern-day world. 

The future of locksmithing in the US moving forward is one that requires a readiness to move along the current trend in the industry, proper training in the area of the latest locking technologies as well as good branding. Despite the statistics mentioned here, professionals and businesses dependent on the US locksmith industry should not panic. According to a recent publication by the Locksmithspros, the industry is set to get saturated in the next few years but the endpoint is to maintain relevance. The advice from LocksmithsPros is clear, only locksmiths who can respond to the digital and electronic security needs of people and organizations will be able to augment their marketability in the profession in the US. New entrepreneurs must provide excellent branding in the areas of customer service, vast and skillful knowledge of both modern and traditional mechanical, electronic, and digital locking systems. Of course, employability or consultation, should not be overlooked. 

History of Locksmithing

It is impossible to talk about one of the oldest professions to have ever existed and not talk of the locksmith profession. It is as basic as what it is called. The art of making, cracking, defeating locks and keys. The locksmith profession is over 4000 years old and is said to date as far back as 704BC. Of course, looking back now, one wouldn’t expect to have the style of locksmithing we have today back then due to innovations and advancement of technology in the craft. The earliest locks were said to be wooden and required several pins to be inserted into the lock to get it unlocked. However, a jammed lock can now be cracked in minutes with the aid of technologically advanced kits. 

At that time as well, locksmiths were known to be skilled in other forms of art. They could also make and repair guns, metal tools, create screws and fasteners, and get creative with other forms of metallic and non-metallic materials. Well, we are no longer in the stone and ice age. Technological advancement has made the art of locksmithing way bigger and better!

Locksmithing Of The 21st Century

Nowadays, locksmithing is much more about sophisticated, enhanced security systems and not just forging metals, Padlocks, and antique door locks. E-locks and digital security levels are now the order of the day. An average locksmith now must have in-depth technical ‘know-how’ of both the traditional and modern way of lock making. These days, locksmiths can diversify either as lone artists, independent security consultants or as security agency professionals. They can as well render services such as replicating and replacing keys and building custom safes.

It is rather unfortunate that this particular profession is a little too underrated in our society of today. Locksmiths do so much more than we give them credit for. It is one of those jobs where one only tends to appreciate the finished work and usefulness forgetting the background efforts. The basic truth is that the craft of being able to make locks is just as important as security in itself.

Everyone experiences some sort of relief knowing their doors are locked or something you intend to keep safe is under lock and key’. It is a kind of profession that generally conveys a feeling of safety. The locksmith profession has become a big deal in a large economy like that of the United States and the profession is facing a tuff challenge adapting to modern home and auto technology. 

To sum it all up we can conclude that as a profession, locksmithing, is becoming more sophisticated, skill-based and increasingly competitive.