Traditionally a textile manufacturing hub, the Charlotte region’s manufacturing industry has diversified and advanced to include thousands of firms in precision metrology, optoelectronics, biomedical technology and chemicals, among other fields. With a low cost of doing business, large available labor pool and strong academic-industry collaboration on workforce training, the Charlotte region is a prime place for relocating or expanding manufacturing companies.
Q1 2019
ADVANTAGES OF DOING BUSINESS IN CHARLOTTE More than 110,000 people work in the advanced manufacturing industry in the Charlotte region. Our manufacturing sector has grown and diversified through the decades. Countless firms here specialize in sophisticated intelligent manufacturing fields such as precision metrology, optoelectronics and biomedical technology. These innovative fields have developed alongside such traditional manufacturing as metals, machinery, chemicals, plastics, electronics, transportation equipment, and food and beverages. Manufacturing executives also find our area's combination of talent and access a winning formula for headquarters and other corporate office operations.
Manufacturers come to Charlotte to tap into our skilled and productive workforce. The Charlotte region is home to 16 universities and 15 community colleges. This includes the fastest growing university in the North Carolina system, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a number of community colleges offering specialized and customizable manufacturing training. The region has also benefited from a strong German influence and has developed nationally-recognized apprenticeship programs to make sure that our industry always has the talent it needs. Source: EMSI, 2018Q4
TOP 10 MANUFACTURING EMPLOYERS
Regional Employment
County
5,000+
Regional
SELECT MANUFACTURING HEADQUARTERS
Regional Employment 1,800
Sub-Industry Machinery Manufacturing
ACCESS
TALENT
AFFORDABILITY
A central location on the U.S. East Coast and the seventh busiest global airport puts the world within Charlotte’s reach. 53% of the US population lives within 12-hours trucking distance or a two-hour flight, and with more than 700 daily nonstop flights to 150-plus destinations, nowhere is too far away.
The Charlotte region has over 110,000 working within the Advanced Manufacturing sector. Sectors with the most employees are Fabricated Metal Manufacturing (over 17k), Machinery Manufacturing (over 14k,) and Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (12k).
Comprehensive tax reform has brought North Carolina to one of the lowest flat corporate tax rates at 2.5% in the nation. North Carolina regularly ranks high in business friendliness.
OCCUPATION
2018 REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT
AVERAGE WAGES
LOCATION QUOTIENT
EMPLOYMENT GROWTH SINCE 2013
Misc. Assemblers & Fabricators
18,116
$29,450
1.50
4%
Misc. Production Workers
9,305
$27,556
1.12
10%
First-Line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers
7,207
$57,579
1.26
13%
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, & Weighers
6,159
$34,448
1.23
18%
REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT
COUNTY
COMPANY
REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT
SUB-INDUSTRY
5,038
$41,313
1.41
9%
1,800
Union
Sealed Air
1,400
Plastics & Rubber Products Manufacturing
Machinists
Tyson Foods
Welding, Soldering, & Brazing Workers
4,556
$39,498
1.10
10%
Siemens Energy
1,725
Mecklenburg
Coca-Cola Bottling Company
1,300
Beverage & Tobacco Product Manufacturing
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders
4,546
$29,870
1.25
10%
Commscope
1,700
Catawba
Electrolux
850
Fabricated Metal Manufacturing
Miscellaneous Textile, Apparel, and Furnishing Workers
4,523
$35,824
5.97
15%
ATI Specialty Materials
1,400
Union
Corning
700
Electrial Equipment, Appliance & Component Manufacturing
Machine Tool Cutting Setters, Operators, and Tenders
4,426
$32,677
1.49
-1%
GKN Driveline
1,375
Catawba
Domtar
590
Paper Product Manufacturing
Textile Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
4,232
$25,367
6.13
2%
3,228
$28,508
2.37
13%
1,200
York
ASMO North Carolina
400
Electrial Equipment, Appliance & Component Manufacturing
Sewing Machine Operators
Schaeffler
3,213
$28,815
2.63
28%
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry
1,200
Mecklenburg
Curtiss-Wright
400
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders,
3,165
$39,718
2.94
5%
RSI Home Products
1,000
Lincoln
Husqvarna
300
Machinery Manufacturing
Molders and Molding Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
2,732
$30,668
1.78
32%
Wix Filtration
900
Gaston
Jeld-Wen
200
Metal, Window & Door
Crushing, Grinding, Polishing, Mixing, and Blending Workers
2,716
$32,565
1.54
16%
Source: Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, Business Wise
Charlotte consistently ranks high as a destination city for all ages. More than 37,000 newcomers arrive in the Charlotte area each year, drawn by career opportunities, diverse living options and a cost of living lower than the national average.
LARGEST 15 PRODUCTION OCCUPATIONS
COMPANY
Source: Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Data, Business Wise
QUALITY OF LIFE
Source: EMSI, 2018Q4
Source: National Association of Manufacturers
Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing One example of an innovative advanced manufacturing operation in the Charlotte area is the Design Foundry in Hickory, NC. It announced a $3.1 million dollar investment and 202 jobs over five years in early 2019. It will create a unique furniture operation which emphasizes the rich history of furniture making which is plentiful in Hickory, with advanced laser cutting technology, along with iPads at every station, moving furniture-making into the 21st century.
MAJOR MANUFACTURING RELOCATIONS OR EXPANSIONS IN 2017 - 2018
Rock Hill Expansion
Moved from New Jersey
New Facility in Mooresville
Additive Manufacturing The Charlotte region is an emerging hub for additive manufacturing. With an industry leader, 3D Systems, in Rock Hill, SC; Oerlikon investing in additive manufacturing R&D in Huntersville; and cutting-edge additive manufacturing research at UNC Charlotte, the Charlotte region continues to strenghten its additive manufacturing cluster.
www.charlotteregion.com