One of the unique aspects of the US and Canadian lift industry is that it has many organizations and associations that represent distinct groups within the industry.

The organization that has the largest group of members is the International Union of Elevator Constructors, better known as the IUEC. The IUEC is a trade union that represents approximately 88% of the lift engineers (Elevator Mechanics in the USA and Canada) who install, service, or modernize lifts, escalators, and other conveyances such as moving walks and dumbwaiters in the USA and Canada. The IUEC was organized in 1901; has seventy-seven locals (branch offices), and over 31,000 members.