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Q1 2017
January-March
SKILLED TRADES OCCUPATION GROUP Oakland County
Skilled Trades & Technicians (Manufacturing Focused)
Introduction WIN’s technicians/skilled trades category includes jobs related to advanced manufacturing. Southeast Michigan has more demand for skilled- trades labor, such as CNC machinists and welders, than almost anywhere else in the country.
Online Job Postings
NOTE: Skilled trades related to construction and assembly are not included in this cluster, as the focus is on advanced manufacturing only.
Job Posting Analysis Bucking the 2016 trend of decline, demand for Oakland County’s skilled trades increased to 1,569 postings in Q1 2017, a rise of 28 percent. This level of postings is the highest for the occupation group in recent years by over 100 job ads. While there is some quarter- to–quarter volatility, skilled trades demands have been on a generally increasing trend.
Data: Burning Glass Technologies Analysis: Workforce Intelligence Network
Employment Over Time Quarter 1 2017
Employment Analysis Employment for Skilled Trades and Technicians increased for a seventh consecutive year through 2017. During Q1 2017, this occupation group employed 29,211 individuals in Oakland County, 200 more workers than in 2016. Employment has now surpassed 2007 levels, but remains well below early 2000 levels. Data: EMSI Analysis: Workforce Intelligence Network
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Highest level of employment since 2006
Top in-demand job: First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers
Skilled Trades & Technicians Top Jobs Quarter 1 2017
Analysis First-line supervisors of production and operating workers remain the top demanded job, followed closely by production workers, with 216 and 181 online job ads respectively. Electronics engineering technicians, last quarter’s newcomers to the top five, are third most demanded with 176 postings. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers and weighers and machinists are also in high demand. Data: Burning Glass Technologies Analysis: Workforce Intelligence Network
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Education in-demand: High school diploma and vocational training
Skilled Trades & Technicians Education and Experience Among online job postings providing educational attainment requirements, most employers prefer those with a high school diploma or vocational training. One hundred fourteen postings request an associate’s degree, and another one hundred sixty-six ads indicated that a bachelor’s degree is necessary for employment. These are likely for positions in management or supervision. Skilled trades openings posted online most often tend to be for entry level or other less experienced positions. Forty three percent of ads specifying experience are open to workers with fewer than two years of experience, and another 44 percent seek candidates with three to five years.
Entry level positions in high demand
In-Demand Areas of Study • • • • •
Engineering, General Mechanical Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologies Automotive Engineering Technology Business Administration and Management
Educational Attainment
Data: Burning Glass Technologies Analysis: Workforce Intelligence Network
Experience Required
Data: Burning Glass Technologies Analysis: Workforce Intelligence Network
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In-demand Skills: Inspection and Repair
Record high demand: 1,569 job postings
Skilled Trades & Technicians In-Demand Skills The most often advertised baseline and specialized skills for Skilled Trades and Technicians demonstrate that Oakland County employers seek workers with well-rounded foundational skills along with expertise in traditional or new skilled trade practices. In addition to being able to perform specific trade-related duties such as inspection or repair, these workers must also be able to communicate in teams, troubleshoot and problem solve. Furthermore, having Microsoft Office skills is now a common requirement in some Skilled Trades openings.
Technical In-Demand Skills • • • • •
Inspection/Repair Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining Microsoft Office Welding
Job Type • • •
Temporary: 6.6% Full-time: 68.1% Part-time: 1.8%
Foundational In-Demand Skills • • • • •
Communication Skills Ability to perform physical labor Mathematics Troubleshooting/Problem Solving Detail-oriented
Certifications Required • • • • •
Cash Handling Certification Welding Certification (E.G. AWS Certified Welder) Commercial Driver’s License American Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Forklift Operator Certification
Data: Burning Glass Technologies Analysis: Workforce Intelligence Network 4
Top Certifications: Cash Handling and Welding
Skilled Trades & Technicians Wages
Average advertised salary: $37,508
Advertised Wages in Job Postings Quarter 1 2017
Among the 543 online postings that provided salary information, 55% offered wages under $35,000. Fewer than 3 percent of jobs in the Skilled Trades field offered wages above $75,000. The average salary across the industry was $37,508, a 2 percent increase from last quarter’s average of $36,637. It is likely, however, that the salary growth potential in this group is not well represented due to the high proportion of entry level jobs advertised. Median hourly wages remained greater than $15 per hour across the top ten most in-demand in Skilled Trades, with several positions offering over $20 per hour.
Data: Burning Glass Technologies Analysis: Workforce Intelligence Network
Wage Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016
Data: EMSI, BLS Analysis: Workforce Intelligence Network
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