Manufacturing Assembly Fastest Growing Occupation, Northeast Indiana Report Shows
Team assemblers – people who assemble products or parts of products for manufacturers – belong to the
fastest‐growing occupation in northeast Indiana in the last five years, according to the February Labor Market
Report released by Northeast Indiana Works.
The fastest‐growing industry is another part of the manufacturing sector – motor vehicle seating and interior
trim manufacturing.
The labor market report was compiled by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development for Northeast
Indiana Works using data from Economic Modeling Specialists International.
The analysis of job growth among occupations where more than 460 jobs were added showed team assembler
employment rose 28 percent between 2010 and 2014, from 9,353 jobs to 11,933; machinists employment grew
22 percent, from 2,475 to 3,020; inspectors, testers, sorters and samplers increased 19 percent, from 2,848 to
3,376; first‐line supervisors of production were up 18 percent, from 2,969 to 3,491; and industrial truck and
tractor operators increased 16 percent, from 3,096 to 3,589.
Average hourly earnings in the highest‐growth occupations range from $15.23 an hour for inspectors and testers
to $25.04 an hour for first‐line supervisors. Earnings include benefits.
Among industry sectors where more than 650 jobs were added, motor vehicle seating and interior trim
manufacturing grew 130 percent, from 628 jobs to 1,447 jobs; travel trailer and camper manufacturing rose 85
percent, from 1,138 to 2,107; wood kitchen cabinet and countertop manufacturing increased 62 percent, from
1,056 to 1,711; home health care services were up 54 percent, from 1,683 to 2,598; and light truck and utility
vehicle manufacturing increased 48 percent, from 3,074 to 4,539.
Average hourly earnings in the highest‐growth industries range from $30,078 a year for workers in home health
care services to $100,432 for workers in light truck and utility vehicle manufacturing.
In all, the number of jobs in 11 northeast Indiana counties have grown 8 percent in the last five years, from
312,168 to 337,385, according to the report.
Counties represented in the report include Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben,
Wabash, Wells and Whitley.
About Northeast Indiana Works: Northeast Indiana Works, the region’s workforce investment board, provides public
and private financial and employment resources to businesses and individuals for education and skills training to
meet the needs of regional industries. The nonprofit sets policy for how public and private funds are utilized to
support talent development. It also operates and staffs the 11 county‐based WorkOne Northeast career centers in
the region. Individuals and companies may access resources and services by visiting or calling WorkOne in their
county. To find your local WorkOne, log on to www.workoneworks.com
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