INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The annual Indiana Manufacturing Survey, commissioned by CPA firm Katz, Sapper & Miller and authored by faculty from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business at IUPUI, suggests that the Indiana manufacturing sector continues to see strong demand for its products, with a record number of respondents expecting their product markets to grow rapidly in the near future. However, many are having difficulty replacing the skilled and unskilled workers of the baby boomer generation who are retiring now.
Companies reported increasing capital investments in technology to partially meet the demand for skilled workers and to remain competitive. Some 48% of employers say their number of jobs continues to increase, mainly in the skilled jobs sector, a result of implementing new technologies and automation. Respondents reported current shortages in skilled production (machinists, craft workers, operators, etc.), unskilled production and supporting roles (engineers and planners).