LIFT Report: Lightweighting-Related Job Demand in 5-State Region Surges, Encourages Advanced Manufacturing Training and Education

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1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 23, 2015 Contact: Lucy Houchin LIFT Report: Lightweighting-Related Job Demand in 5-State Region Surges, Encourages Advanced Manufacturing Training and Education Indiana lightweighting job ads reached 12-month high in July/August 2015 Indianapolis, Ind. Demand for lightweighting-related occupations reached new levels in July and August 2015 levels representing an increase of more than 50 percent since year-end This, according to a new market report from LIFT (Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow) and WIN (Workforce Intelligence Network) the former a public-private partnership that is developing and deploying advanced lightweight materials, manufacturing technologies and training programs over a 5-state region including Indiana. The positive, upward trend of lightweighting-related postings continues to strengthen and encourage the need for a skilled and trained workforce, said Emily Stover DeRocco, education and workforce director of LIFT. Advanced manufacturing knowledge remains key for our region s success as a talented, inventive manufacturing hub. Since the end of 2014, online job ads in Indiana for advanced manufacturing jobs related to lightweighting have nearly doubled. Postings in July/August 2015 increased from 9,144 postings in May/June 2015 to 9,435, and have increased by 94 percent since November/December s 4,857 postings. According to the new July/August 2015 market report, of the 9,435 job ads posted, nearly 60 percent advertised salaries over $35,000, and more than half required at least a bachelor s degree. Laborers and freight, stock and material movers remained as the top in-demand occupations, with over 1,000 online job ads posted. With more than half of Indiana s available lightweighting-related jobs requiring at least a bachelor s degree, rising demand must be met through a statewide, concerted effort on education for a sustainable workforce poised for growth, said Brian Burton, President of the Indiana Manufacturers Association and member of the Indiana LIFT State Team.

2 The most in-demand lightweighting-related occupations in Indiana included: Assembly and Operation (1,964 postings) Skilled Materials Workers (1,795 postings) Logistics Workers (1,756 postings) Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (1,748 postings) Process Engineering and Testing (569 postings) The full Indiana report can be viewed at: ABOUT LIFT Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow (LIFT) is a public-private partnership that will develop and deploy advanced lightweight materials manufacturing technologies and programs to prepare the workforce. The LIFT region includes 5 states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. LIFT is operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII) and was selected through a competitive process led by the U.S. Department of Defense under the Lightweight and Modern Metals Manufacturing Innovation (LM3I) solicitation issued by the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research. LIFT is one of the founding institutes in the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, a federal initiative to create regional hubs to accelerate the development and adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.

3 LIGHTWEIGHT INNOVATIONS FOR TOMORROW Indiana and i n da and Custom Analysis by

4 Postings over time Since the end of 2014 online job ads in Indiana for advanced manufacturing jobs related to lightweighting have almost doubled. Over the past 10 months previously averaged just over 8,000 but recently increased close to 9,500. Postings increased 3.2% in July and August, to 9,435, from 9,144 postings in May and June. Postings have increased 94% since November-December Top Jobs Online lightweighting job ads in Indiana reached a 12 month high during July and August Of the 9,435 ads posted during these two months, 58% offered salaries over $35,000 and 52% required at least a bachelor s degree. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers remained at the top in-demand occupation, with 1,202 online ads posted. Another large share of LIFT-related employer demand was captured by maintenance and repair workers (1,170 postings)

5 What counts as lightweighting? Over 140 individual ocupations are related to lightweighting and can be organized into 3 main occupational groups and 10 subgroups. (1) Skilled trades jobs include machinists, assembly and operations workers, and skilled materials workers. (2) Administration jobs include procurement and purchasing workers, human safety workers, and logistics workers. (3) Engineering & design jobs include electrical and mechanical engineers, chemical engineers & metallurgy workers, designers and drafters, and process engineers and testers. Occupation Sub-Groups Postings and Employment Analyzing postings and employment side-byside helps put postings into context. While postings for occupations in the Electrical & Mechanical Engineering sub-group accounted for 19% of LIFT-related job postings in Indiana during July and August, this sub-group is only 6% of lightweightingrelated employment in the state. This disparity between postings and employment indicates that this occupation sub-group is in very high demand and that employment will likely grow in the future. On the other hand, there are sub-groups that are large employment groups but do not capture a similarly sized fraction of related online job postings. Occupations in the Machinists sub-group account for 17% of lightweighting-related employment in Indiana but only had 2% of the postings during July and August. This could be a signal that employer demand is not strong, or that employers are not utilizing online postings to find new workers. For some of the remaining occupation sub-groups the share of postings and employment are roughly equivalent. 3

6 Employment in Indiana Lightweighting-related employment in Indiana fell slightly between 2014 and The most recent 2015 estimates show total lightweighting employment at 498,119, just a 0.3% decrease from 2014 s 499,798 jobs. With less than a percentage point drop in lightweighting employment, the outlook for these jobs is still bright. 9 Administration Occupations Essential administration jobs related to lightweighting include purchasing materials, ensuring worker safety around machines and with materials, and coordinating and analyzing material and goods movement. While these jobs are primarily focused on administration, all of the workers in this occupation category must have detailed knowledge of materials, goods movement, and worker safety to help ensure smooth and seamless production. During July and August 2015, employers in Indiana posted 2,332 online job ads for occupations in Logistics, Procurement & Purchasing, and uman Safety. This occupational cluster represents 25% of LIFT-related job postings in the state. July and August s 2,332 postings showed no significant change in employer demand from May and June numbers; postings in this cluster have fluctuated between 2,300 and 2,400 for the past six months without major jumps. The largest share of postings was captured in the Logistics sub-group. The 1,756 online ads here represent 19% of overall LIFT job demand statewide. 4

7 Skilled Trades Skilled trades workers are the builders and makers of America. They work directly with advanced materials, assemble complicated products, and are experts in welding and machinery. They ensure that designs and plans are carried out to every detail and specification. These workers do everything from welding, to setting and managing computer-numerically-controlled machines, to overseeing manufacturing floors. These skilled workers are essential to lightweighting manufacturing. The 71 individual occupations within this cluster can be split into three distinct occupation sub-groups; machinists, assembly & operations workers, and skilled materials workers. In July and August 2015, there were 4,165 online job postings for Skilled Trades positions making this the largest LIFT occupational cluster in terms of demand (44% of total employer demand). This level of postings has remained stagnant since March and is dominated by demand for maintenance and repair workers, first-line supervisors of production and operating workers, and production workers. The Skilled Trades large share of job demand in Indiana means that this area is likely to drive growth in advanced manufacturing employment related to lightweighting. *Data Note: Demand is defined as online job postings by employers in the state specific for this report. 5

8 Engineering & Design Engineers and industrial designers create the blueprints for all things manufacturing. These workers not only envision the products of the future but also ensure that the products are functional, safe, reliable, and durable. Over 300,000 workers in the LIFT region are employed in engineering and design occupations, representing just over 12% of total lightweighting occupational employment. The 52 individual occupations within this cluster can be split into four distinct occupation subgroups: electrical & mechanical engineering, chemical engineering & metallurgy, industrial designers & drafters, and process engineering & testing. There were 2,938 Engineering & Design occupation job postings in Indiana during July and August This occupational cluster accounts for 31% of all LIFT-related employer demand in the state. The most in-demand sub-group in Engineering & Design is still Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, where 1,748 postings account for 19% of total LIFT job demand in the state. 6

9 Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) is a public-private partnership that will develop and deploy advanced lightweight materials manufacturing technologies and implement education and training programs to prepare the workforce. Lightweight materials are increasingly important to the competitiveness of transportation manufacturing sectors, including suppliers in the automobile, aircraft, heavy truck, ship, rail, and defense manufacturing industries. Lighter vehicles for the military, industry, and consumers alike, have better performance and use less fuel. LIGHTWEIGHT INNOVATIONS FOR TOMORROW The LIFT region includes 5 states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Integrative education, training, and workforce development is a core, sustained aspect of the Institute's mission. An educated and skilled workforce is critical to the future of manufacturing. Under the direction of Emily Stover DeRocco, LIFT's Education & Workforce Director, the LIFT Workforce & Education Working Group will design and implement a cohesive strategy to deliver the talent necessary to the long-term health of the U.S. and defense industrial bases.