Alabama produces metal and plastic manufacturing jobs at 9 times the rate of the U.S. economy

—

December 28, 2014

Want to be an oilman? Go to Texas. Want to be a mathematical technician? Minnesota may be your best bet. Animal breeder? Take a look at Wisconsin. But if you want to work with metal and plastic, your dream job might just be waiting for you in Alabama.

Alabama’s economy is cranking out metal and plastic manufacturing jobs at 9 times the rate of the U.S. economy as a whole, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is largely a result of Alabama’s robust and growing automotive manufacturing sector, which not only includes global brands like Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai, but also their suppliers.

“Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate machines that cut, shape, and form metal and plastic materials or pieces,” according to the BLS.

In the Yellowhammer State, Thomasnet, a supplier discovery resource for manufacturers, lists 26 Alabama companies who work with injection molded plastics and are located in just about every corner of the state, and that does not include many other companies that work in various other areas of plastic and metal manufacturing.

A BLS statistic called “location quotient” calculates which jobs are disproportionately concentrated in each state. In Alabama, for instance, there are 9.05 times as many metal and plastic manufacturing jobs per 10,000 total employed people in Alabama as in the U.S. as a whole. (H/t BusinessInsider for that explanation.)

“Alabama is ideally situated in the center of the Southeast auto corridor for new auto industry projects and expansions, particularly suppliers,” said Greg Canfield, Alabama’s Secretary of Commerce.

But that’s not the only type of job Alabama is producing at a disproportionate rate.

Here’s the most recent BLS graph that shows which jobs in Alabama have the highest location quotient.

(click image to enlarge)