Major Tool & Machine was recently featured in the Indianapolis Recorder, with an interview given by our own Gene Davis and Kendra O’Brien discussing changes they’ve experienced in the manufacturing industry and the current labor shortage.

Read the article here: http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/business/article_b1bc3406-ca5b-11e9-bed3-f3478525aa2a.html

The article goes on to discuss the impact of manufacturing in Indiana and some of the skills required for the industry.

Just as when Davis started his career 52 years ago, manufacturing is a bedrock of the Indiana economy. According to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD), the state has 541,846 manufacturing jobs, equaling 17% of all employment in Indiana. The Indianapolis metropolitan area has over 88,000 manufacturing jobs, equaling 10% of the area’s jobs.

Manufacturing requires new skills, but Berger said due to the labor shortage employers often are willing to teach those skills. For example, Major Tool and Machine has a six-month machinist training program that builds upon lessons from certification courses, teaching blueprint reading, math, safety procedures and how to operate machines. Berger said companies also often offer competitive salaries to encourage people to take these courses and start a career in manufacturing. According to the DWD, the average salary for mechanical engineers and industrial engineers, two common jobs in manufacturing, are both around $75,000.