Plumber jobs are multifaceted and the responsibilities of plumbing work go beyond home pipe maintenance and installation. Construction pipelayers and steamfitters have added responsibilities aside from laying and fitting pipe. Pipefitters install industrial piping for high and low pressure functions as well as for commercial and home use. Many of these jobs involve the knowledge of electricity as well cooling apparatus. The ability to read blueprints and use a computer is essential for most plumbing jobs.

Plumbing occupations hold the largest percentage of construction jobs. More than half of the construction workforce is involved in plumbing work for installation or repair. Plumbing occupations can be in maintenance of office buildings or large power plants. Many individuals in the plumbing field are self employed.

Due to the increase in population and new building as well as reconstruction of older buildings, the expectation that plumbing services will increase is quite positive. Increase in demand of workers will also mean that requirements for qualified workers will go up, and therefore the need for skilled and educated plumbers will rise.