BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 6, 2022) — Radius Indiana joins the U.S. Small Business Administration and the National Association of Manufacturers in recognizing Manufacturing Day, an annual event on the first Friday of October, which celebrates modern manufacturing and is meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.
Manufacturing is the fifth-largest employer in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over 19,400 workers are employed in the manufacturing industry in the Radius Region which represents an increase of 350 new jobs created in the sector over the past ten years, despite the disruption of the COVID pandemic.
The regional Location Quotient for manufacturing in the Radius Region is 2.64, revealing that the sector is more than two-and-a-half times more concentrated regionally than it is nationally. Manufacturing represents 21.4% of total regional employment compared to the national total of 8.1% of employment in the sector.
Production jobs dominate manufacturing occupations in Radius’s eight counties; over 60% of all manufacturing jobs are classified as production, while 10% are transportation and material moving, slightly over 7% are office and administration, and the remainder are scattered over a variety of functions.
“Manufacturing remains one of the most important pillars of our regional economy,” said Radius President and CEO Jeff Quyle. “From high-demand furniture manufacturing to the factories supplying important parts for the automotive industry, the strength in manufacturing appears to be providing the financial fuel to allow other parts of the economy to grow.”
Wages among production workers vary greatly according to the occupational skills needed. Entry level meat cutters in the agribusiness sector average annual wages in the low-$30,000 range, while skilled assemblers and machine operators average wages in the mid-$40,000s. Average wages for all workers of $52,614 are below the national average, but are among some of the highest paying wages in the region.
The region’s number of manufacturing firms is on the rebound in recent years. From a high of 363 manufacturing establishments in 2011, the numbers decreased to around 340 in the following decade, but have climbed every year from 2019 to 2021 back to 360 establishments.
Counties throughout the region are participating in Manufacturing Day in their own unique ways. In Orange County, 8th grade students from Orleans, Paoli and Springs Valley will visit local manufacturing/distributing partners such as Jasper Seating, Inc, Best Home Furnishings, Pluto Inc., and Boston International.
Additionally, the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council is continuing its trend from 2021 to celebrate a 5-day Manufacturing Week that includes activities with students from The Collaboration of Shoals, Orleans, and Mitchell Schools (COSMOS) and the North Lawrence Career Center to introduce the industry through informational sessions and tours with local manufacturers. Those companies include WF Meyers, Stone City Products, CAP, IN-FAB, and PRD.
“We applaud our manufacturers, their employees and the contributions they make to our economy in the Radius Region. We will continue to monitor this important sector and work with our regional employers to help them thrive as well as make the region a choice location for new investment,” said Quyle.