Work Force
Take advantage of West Virginia’s
work force, containing more than 48,000
skilled professionals in the following
fields:
- production supervisors
- chemists
- chemical technicians
- plant and equipment operators
- molding, forming and extrusion machine
operators
The average industry wage in West
Virginia is 90 percent of the average
wage in the competing states and 83
percent of the national average.
Ranked 10th nationally in plastic
resin output per worker and second
in output per custom compounding resins
worker in the 2002 Economic Census,
which reflects strong labor productivity.
Any new company that creates 10 or
more jobs qualifies for the award-winning
Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force
Program, which provides training to
new and/or existing employees.
Advanced training and technical assistance
in machining, composite fabrication
and manufacturing technology is available
from four institutions offering extensive,
industry-designed associate degree
programs in plastic technologies specifically
to meet the work force needs of the
industry. These institutions include:
Education
West Virginia ensures a work force
equipped to meet the challenges presented
by today's advanced technology.
Computer literacy is required in
grades K through 12.
West Virginia's higher education
system offers students degree programs
in all facets of today's high-technology
industries, including biometrics.
Vocational facilities aid in meeting
the expanding educational needs of
the work force.
Learn more about West Virginia’s
quality
education
| Key
Occupations Required |
W.Va.
Supply |
WV
Employment
Concentration
Ratio* |
WV
Average Wage |
U.S.
Average Wage |
WV
as Ratio
of U.S. |
| Chemical
plant and system operators |
1,150 |
3.53 |
$52,600 |
$45,830 |
1.15 |
| Chemical
equipment operators and tenders |
570 |
2.29 |
$43,430 |
$39,560 |
1.10 |
| Extruding
and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators,
and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
1,350 |
2.79 |
$27,150 |
$28,370 |
0.96 |
| Molding,
Coremaking, and Casting Machine
Setters, Operators, and Tenders,
Metal and Plastic |
360 |
0.43 |
$22,300 |
$26,490 |
0.84 |
| Packers
and Packagers, Hand |
2,630 |
0.57 |
$17,590 |
$18,760 |
0.94 |
| Cutting,
Punching, and Press Machine Setters,
Operators, and Tenders, Metal and
Plastic |
1,200 |
0.87 |
$26,610 |
$27,240 |
0.98 |
| Laborers
and Freight, Stock, and Material
Movers |
13,620 |
1.06 |
$19,490 |
$22,190 |
0.88 |
| Industrial
truck and tractor operators |
2,770 |
0.82 |
$26,260 |
$28,390 |
0.92 |
| Truck
Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer |
11,170 |
1.31 |
$29,240 |
$34,920 |
0.84 |
| Truck
Drivers, Light or Delivery Services |
5,480 |
1.10 |
$21,670 |
$26,640 |
0.81 |
| Machine
feeders and off bearers |
1,360 |
1.75 |
$19,010 |
$23,700 |
0.80 |
| Coating,
Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters,
Operators, and Tenders |
230 |
0.43 |
$27,080 |
$27,880 |
0.97 |
| Chemists |
590 |
1.40 |
$61,660 |
$62,400 |
0.99 |
| Chemical
Engineers |
330 |
2.15 |
$78,490 |
$78,030 |
1.01 |
| Mechanical
engineers |
450 |
0.38 |
$63,480 |
$69,480 |
0.91 |
| Chemical
technicians |
790 |
2.40 |
$43,950 |
$40,040 |
1.10 |
| First-line
supervisors/managers of production
and operating workers |
3,740 |
1.02 |
$47,510 |
$48,290 |
0.98 |
| First-line
supervisors/managers of helpers,
laborers and material movers |
700 |
0.75 |
$37,710 |
$40,770 |
0.92 |
| Total
Plastics Workers |
48,490 |
1.06 |
$36,957 |
$38,277 |
0.96 |
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics 2004 State
Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
West Virginia
*An employment concentration ratio greater than 1.0 indicates the occupation has a
relatively greater presence in the state's work force than in the nation's.
|