Kentucky Lightweighting-Related Employment Level Continues Upward Trend in 2018

FRANFORT, KY – Advanced manufacturing employment in Kentucky reached new heights in 2018 with nearly 290,000 workers employed – the greatest employment level since 2001. This according to a new report from Detroit-based LIFT—Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow, a Manufacturing USA institute.

Employer demand grew by 23 percent between Q4 2017 and Q1 2018 with 6,965 job postings, which is up 47 percent over five years ago.

The quarterly reports, highlighting employment trends, top jobs, and required skills in advanced manufacturing through Q1 2018, are completed with research and analysis from the Workforce Intelligence Network of Southeast Michigan (WIN) and Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, a region that’s home to more than 50 percent of the metalworking jobs in the country.

“Advanced manufacturing job demand has created an ever-growing need for talent in Kentucky and across the country,” said Emily DeRocco, education and workforce director, LIFT. “Addressing those workforce needs with advanced manufacturing education pathways will be key to our nation’s economic prosperity and national security.”

The top in-demand lightweighting-related occupations in Kentucky in Q1 2018 included: Laborers and Freight, Stock and Material Movers (1,136 postings), Maintenance and Repair Workers (714 postings), Production Workers (495 postings), Industrial Engineering Technicians (388 postings) and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (328 postings).

LIFT, operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute (ALMMII) and one of the founding Manufacturing USA institutes, is a public- private partnership dedicated to developing and deploying advanced lightweight metal manufacturing technologies, and implementing education and training programs to better prepare the workforce today and in the future.

The full Kentucky report can be viewed at: https://lift.technology/education-workforce- development/.

###

ABOUT LIFT

LIFT is a Detroit-based, public-private partnership committed to the development and deployment of advanced lightweight metal manufacturing technologies, and implementing education and training initiatives to better prepare the workforce today and in the future. LIFT is one of the founding institutes of Manufacturing USA, and is funded in part by the Department of Defense with management through the Office of Naval Research. Visit www.lift.technology or follow on Twitter @NewsFromLIFT to learn more.

ABOUT WORKFORCE INTELLIGENCE NETWORK OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN

The Workforce Intelligence Network of Southeast Michigan (WIN) is a collaborative effort between nine community colleges and six Michigan Works! Agencies, in partnership with numerous other organizations, to create a comprehensive and cohesive workforce development system in Southeast Michigan that provides employers with the talent they need for success. WIN covers a 16-county area, including Genesee, Hillsdale, Huron, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wayne. WIN was founded with the support of the New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan and publicly launched in November 2011.