Where to find American Factory Jobs

While there appear to be many American factory jobs, one fact remains clear: there is a critical shortage of skilled workers to fill these jobs. Machinists in particular are one of the most sought-after workers.

Machinists are skilled tradesmen and women who work with tools such as lathes, milling machines, and grinders to produce precision metal parts. They plan and carry out the operations needed to make machined products that meet precise specifications.

They work on creating small amounts of products or highly specialized products. They must have a solid knowledge of the working properties of metal and at least a basic knowledge of chemistry. They should know trigonometry and geometry and blueprint reading, metalworking, and drafting.

Being a machinist is a highly technical craft that requires knowledge of computers, programming, and geometry.

Enrollment in technical schools by those who want to become a machinist has been down several years in a row, which partly explains the dire need and shortage of these workers.

At the same time, domestic contract manufacturers are enjoying a boon in business, but it is hard to keep up with demand when there isn't enough skilled labor to fill orders. Many employers have jobs available but can't find the skill sets needed.

Employers especially are looking for  manual machinists, quality control inspectors and machinists trained to use computer-controlled systems. But if employers cannot find workers already educated and experienced to perform these jobs, they may instead hire less-skilled workers and train them on the job, which could take months and even years.

Because the United States has been outsourcing its manufacturing jobs over the last few decades, talent in the manufacturing industry is hard to come by. Employers continue to struggle finding skilled tradesmen to fill these important jobs that are critical to the economy.

The income for a machinist is substantial, better than expected. Employers say that many machinists make an average of $60,000 but that number can swell to the six figures when overtime is included.

As older machinists retire, the shortage becomes even greater. It's up to employers to educate potential recruits starting in high school and to tell them that this is a great job that requires specialized training. Instead of a traditional four-year school, students may consider training as a machinist instead.

New data shows that U.S. manufacturers are hiring at the fastest pace in more than a decade to keep up with new orders from companies both abroad and here.

Employers are possibly looking at a new way to fill factory jobs if they can't get human bodies in them. Robots present a possible solution to the critical talent shortage. Robots will perform the machinist work, while engineers and programmers monitor and operate the machines.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that projected factory employment will drop to 11.5 million workers by 2020, down from 11.9 million in January. Manufacturers' share of the labor market will likely drop to 7 percent by the end of the decade, according to the government projections. This is projected employment. For now, job growth continues. Last year factories added 237,000 jobs, the most since 1997. The United States accounts for one-fifth of global factory output.