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Automobile production is the largest manufacturing industry in the US, employing more than 1.3 million Americans in all 50 states, according to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM).
More than half of these workers are directly involved in production activities, and each day, they have the satisfaction of knowing that their work ultimately helps support another 12 million jobs around the country.
“When you look under the hood of today's automobile, you'll see goods from America's greatest industries,” says Josephine Cooper, president and CEO of the AAM. “These include textiles from the Southeast, computer chips from California, aluminum manufactured in Iowa and air bags produced in Arizona. No other single industry is more linked to US manufacturing or generates more retail business and employment.”
The Financial Benefits
And perhaps no other single manufacturing occupation offers as many rewards, especially where pay is concerned. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports that production workers in the automotive manufacturing sector earned an average salary of $865 a week in 2000, which translates to an annual salary (assuming a 40-hour workweek) of about $45,000. And, the BLS adds, “at $1,093 per week, earnings of production workers in establishments that manufacture complete motor vehicles and car bodies were among the highest in the nation.”
The Most Popular Jobs
The most popular occupations in automobile production, in terms of numbers, include:
- Assemblers, fabricators, and metal and plastic workers (about 270,000), all of whom put together parts to create various subassemblies, which in turn are assembled into complete vehicles.
- Welding, soldering and brazing workers (about 45,000), who handle the welding and maintenance/repair duties that robots cannot.
- Inspectors and testers (about 29,000), who not only ensure that completed vehicles meet quality standards but also inspect raw materials and check various parts for defects.
- Supervisors and managers (also about 29,000), who oversee the work of others and coordinate manufacturing processes and production activities.
Where the Jobs Are
The vast majority of automobile production jobs are concentrated in Michigan, home to about 289,000 industry workers -- a full 22 percent of the total automobile production workforce. Combined, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana account for half of the jobs in the field, according to the BLS, though there are also significant numbers of auto production workers in California, New York, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.
What It Takes to Break In
You'll almost certainly need at least a high school diploma to launch a career in this field. But as importantly, you'll need strong communication, teamwork and computer skills if you want to succeed in a work environment that is becoming increasingly collaborative and technological, thanks to the daily pressures stemming from stiff competition in the industry.
Expect to receive the bulk of your training on the job, often through a formal apprenticeship program that can last anywhere from a few months to a few years. Such programs combine hands-on activities (under the supervision of experienced workers) with classroom training, either on site or at a nearby technical or community college.
Outlook
In September 2003, United Auto Workers -- the primary labor union for automotive production professionals -- reached four-year agreements with the Big Three automakers (General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group). The union was able to convince the companies not to pass on increasing health insurance costs to workers. But automakers gained more flexibility to close or sell auto production plants in order to better align supply and demand -- a development that could eventually mean job losses for some auto production workers.
However, the BLS points out that employment in the motor vehicle and equipment manufacturing industry is expected to rise 9 percent between 2000 and 2010. Some of that increase will result from sheer growth. But, according to the BLS, “in addition to job openings due to growth, the need to replace workers who transfer to jobs in other industries or retire will also generate job openings.”
For more information on this field, visit the Center for Automotive Research's Web site.
