PLYMOUTH, Minn -- The manufacturing business is booming despite an unstable economy. While other industries are struggling to hire, the manufacturing industry is actually growing.
In fact, 1,200 jobs were added in August, according to the latest numbers from the Departtment of Employment and Economic Development.
The problem the industry has is finding skilled workers, according to Hope Riska, with Productivity Inc. "A lot people think that all of manufacturing is sent overseas when really it's not. Most of manufacturing is done in the United States. In fact, the US is number one in manufacturing," Riska said.
To stay number one they need skilled workers like David Rogers. He spent 20 years in home building before he was laid off. Now, he's hoping to take his skills over to manufacturing. "There's Medtronic, St Jude, Boston Scientific. Huge precision machining happens right here in Minnesota so the possibilities are nearly endless," Rogers said.
The manufacturing sector added 1,200 jobs in August. Industry insiders said they expect that number to grow.
Here are the websites of some companies currently hiring:
Accellent Cardiology - Brooklyn Park, MN accellent.com
AMBA MN Chapter - amba.org
Caterpillar REMAN - Fargo, ND caterpillar.com
Dotson Iron Castings - Mankato, MN dotson.com
Graco, Inc. - Minneapolis, MN graco.com
Horton Vehicle Components Division - hortonww.com
Kurt Manufacturing Co - Minneapolis, MN kurt.com
Metal Craft Machine & Engineering - Elk River, MN metal-craft.com
Metro Mold & Design - Rogers, MN metromold.com
Mold Craft, Inc. - Willernie, MN mold-craft.com
MPMA - MN Precision Manufacturer's Association - Minneapolis, MN mpma.com
MRG Tool & Die Corp - Faribault, toolanddie.net
Pequot Tool & Mfg, Inc - Pequot Lakes, MN pequottool.com
Productivity Quality, Inc. - Plymouth, pqi.net
Proto Labs, Inc. - Maple Plain, MN protolabs.com
Roberts Automatics, Inc. - Chanhassen, MN robertsautomatic.com
UMC, Inc. - Monticello, MN ultramc.com
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