The U.S. Automotive industry is shifting to the Southeast. The Charlotte Region is at the center of this change. More than 63,000 people work in automotive sectors in the region, and nearly 16,500 of those work in high-value manufacturing. That’s more than most peer cities, and the sector continues to grow. In the past two years alone, 20 automotive-related companies have announced plans to locate or expand in the region, adding a total of nearly 1,300 new jobs. Around 90% of all NASCAR teams are headquartered in the region. But it’s not all fun and games. Talented engineers and mechanics working for NASCAR teams have spun off advanced manufacturing operations of their own, adding to the existing industry’s strong base. Community colleges, trade schools and universities award nearly 700 auto-manufacturing-related certificates and degrees each year, providing an additional talent pipeline.
Q1 2019
TOP 10 SUB-INDUSTRIES IN TRADED AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR SUB-INDUSTRY
AVERAGE ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT
AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGES
LOCATION QUOTIENT*
ANNUAL GROWTH SINCE 2013
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
4,951
$57,309
3.35
0.6%
Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing
3,687
$54,769
12.11
2.5%
Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing
1,935
$52,006
2.42
13.0%
Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing
1,507
25,000
EMPLOYMENT IN TRADED AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR, CHARLOTTE & OTHER PEER REGIONS 19,971
20,000
16,427
15,000
14,664
12,505
10,000
10,470 3,929
5,000
$95,493
6.52
3,582
-2.2%
Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing
712
$56,268
2.94
3.0%
Iron Foundries
593
$81,040
1.73
4.8%
Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing
548
$63,189
4.24
0.6%
All Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
513
$74,041
3.22
8.0%
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
412
$50,218
0.93
0.2%
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
300
$43,330
1.81
13.4%
0
Dallas
Charlotte
Kansas City
Greenville
Atlanta
RaleighDurham
Phoenix
2,580
1,909
1,293
752
658
Boston
Tampa
Denver
Austin
Washington, DC
Source: JobsEQ 2018
Source: JobsEQ 2018 Annual Averages *Location Quotient is a measure of the concentration of an industry within a region. Values above 1.0 mean the industry has higher-than-average employment in the region. Values below 0 mean lower-than-average employment.
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR COMPANIES WITH MORE THAN 500 EMPLOYEES
TOP 15 TRADED AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR OCCUPATIONS
Employment: 2,000+ • County: Rowan, Gaston, York Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing
Employment: 2,000+ • County: Chesterfield, York North American headquarters and manufacturing of Automotive bearings, power train components and timing chains.
COMPANY
COUNTY
EMPLOYEES
DESCRIPTION
Mann+Hummel Filtration Technology
Gaston
1,000-1,999
Manufacturing of automotive filters: oil, air, fuel, cabin, transmission, hydraulic, & coolant filters
GKN Driveline
Catawba
1,000-1,999
Manufacturing of automotive gears and transmissions
HSM Solutions
Catawba
1,000-1,999
Seating components
TITLE
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR JOBS
TOTAL REGIONAL JOBS
AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGES
LOCATION QUOTIENT*
ANNUAL GROWTH SINCE 2013
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators
4,867
17,751
$31,900
1.36
2.6%
Machinists
682
4,643
$43,200
1.26
1.8%
Machine Tool Cutting Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
673
4,413
$35,500
1.42
2.3%
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
640
7,349
$61,400
1.25
2.3%
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers
549
6,246
$37,100
1.21
2.8%
Industrial Engineers
488
3,109
$82,600
1.10
2.7%
Welding, Soldering and Brazing Workers
488
4,683
$44,000
1.11
2.0%
Laborers and Material Movers, Hand
457
47,126
$27,200
1.26
4.6%
Molders and Molding Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
438
2,644
$34,400
1.65
3.0%
Industrial Machinery Installation, Repair and Maintenance Workers
431
5,876
$48,200
1.28
1.7%
Giti Tire
Chester
500-999
Tire manufacturer
Wix Filtration
Gaston
500-999
Manufacturing and distribution of automotive and light truck filtration systems
346
2,803
$86,000
1.00
3.2%
Iredell
500-999
Manufacturing and supply of components for emission control systems
Mechanical Engineers
NGK Ceramics
Miscellaneous Production Workers
308
9,585
$30,500
1.15
2.7%
American Tire Distributors
Mecklenburg, Lincoln
500-999
Headquarters, research and development center, and distribution for tire manufacturing company
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
301
1,497
$41,100
1.30
2.2%
Continental Tire the Americas
York
500-999
Headquarters and manufacturing for tire producer
Computer Control Programmers and Operators
283
1,806
$41,200
1.11
2.2%
The Timken Company
Lincoln
500-999
Manufacturer of bearings for wheel assembly
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
258
13,331
$40,300
1.00
3.2%
Sources: Charlotte Regional Business Alliance Research, County EDCs, Business Wise, Industry databases.
Sources: JobsEQ, 2019
Source: JobsEQ 2018 Annual Averages *Location Quotient is a measure of the concentration of an industry within a region. Values above 1.0 mean the industry has higher-than-average employment in the region. Values below 0 mean lower-than-average employment.
AUTOMOTIVE COMPANIES IN THE REGION
ANNOUNCEMENTS 2017 - 2018
Alexander County Iredell County
Taylorsville
Hickory
56 New Jobs | Mecklenburg
77
Statesville
40
Salisbury
Newton
Catawba County
Mooresville
85
321 Lincolnton
Lincoln County
Kannapolis Huntersville
44 New Jobs | Stanly
74
85
Gastonia
Chester County
Charlotte
485
Mecklenburg County Indian Trail Union County
Indian Land
Waxhaw
77 Lancaster County
Chester
88 New Jobs | Lancaster
Mint Hill
Fort Mill
Rock Hill
367 New Jobs | Iredell
Albemarle
Stanly County
Gaston County
York County
275 New Jobs | York
Concord
Cabarrus County
Shelby
Cleveland County
Rowan County
Monroe
Anson County
74
NC SC
Pageland
Chesterfield County
Lancaster
TOTAL AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR GROWTH 65,000 60,000
150 New Jobs | Gaston
55,000 50,000 45,000
22 New Jobs | Iredell
40,000 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Source: JobsEQ 2018
330 S. Tryon Street • Charlotte, NC 28202 • 704.378.1300 • www.charlotteregion.com