The sad fact of the matter is that for many people whose skills lie in the manufacturing sector, such as automatic strapping machine operators, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a job in developed countries like the United States. This is because the cheaper labor and operating costs of placing a factory in a developing country turn into a great deal of padding on a company's bottom line. If you're moving to Garland, Texas and thinking about looking for a job in the manufacturing sector, this article should familiarize you with your chances of finding work.
The unemployment rate in Garland as of late October 2009 was 8.8%, more than the Texas average of 8.1%. This number has been rising steadily since the beginning of 2008. Manufacturing accounts for about 12% of the established businesses, making it the third largest industry by number of businesses. Garland has a higher per capita percentage of manufacturing establishments than the state average, which means that electric cutters will find it easier to get a job here than in the rest of Texas. More good news is that manufacturing accounts for the most jobs in Garland. Nearly 30% of the workforce is employed in that sector.
And now for the bad news: manufacturing in Garland is declining. The number of manufacturing sector businesses has dropped by nearly a fifth since 1997 and so has the number of employees. This is not good news for you, since it means more competition for remaining license plate cover factory jobs, and if you're from out of town you may find yourself at the back of the employment line, as people tend to look after their own first. If you can find a manufacturing job, however, you stand a good chance of a decent wage. Manufacturing employs 30% of the people but accounts for 41% of the payroll.
In terms of the jobs you might find yourself doing in Garland's manufacturing sector, the biggest components of the industry are fabricated metal products at over 27% (which in turn supports the lead shot wholesale industry), clothing at almost 10%, and computer and electronic parts at just over 8.5%. The rest is made up of food, chemicals, plastics and rubber, and machinery. Only chemicals, plastics, and machinery have shown any growth since 1997, and mineral products manufacturing has disappeared entirely since that time.
If you're a vacuum pump systems technician or manufacturing trades person heading out with your resume, the top Garland companies by sales are Interceramic Inc., GHM Corp, and Morgan Buildings and Spas. In terms of number of employees, however, the largest companies are Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions, Kraft Foods, SST Trucking, and General Dynamics. They may have more positions open.
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