Manufacturing and Processing
Most manufacturing plants in the plastics and metalworking industries in Indiana employ fabricators, welders, and machine operators, setters, and tenders. Companies also employ many business managers, engineers, drafters, engineering technicians, and computer programmers. This career area also includes a number of technical jobs in the printing and publications industry, such as press operators and precision photographic processors. Indiana is the leading producer of steel in the U.S. It also ranks among the top five producers of motor vehicle parts, assembly machines, truck and bus bodies, pharmaceuticals, and medical instruments. Workers entering manufacturing and processing occupations have a variety of educational backgrounds, but in general, must have strong mathematical and communication skills. Most of the occupations in the Manufacturing and Processing Career Cluster are nontraditional occupations. This means that women comprise less than 25 percent of workers in these jobs nationally.