SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) – A new report found that employment in lightweighting-related occupations is on the rise in Michigan, and the Great Lakes region, over the past five years and is poised for continued growth.
Between 2009-2014, there was an increase of more than 300,000 lightweighting-related jobs between 2009 and 2014 according to a new market report from LIFT (Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow) and WIN (Workforce Intelligence Network).
“The LIFT region is focused on bringing mind to market with lightweighting technologies and processes,” said Emily Stover DeRocco, education and workforce director, for Corktown-based LIFT in a release. “As lightweighting-related employment continues its gains, it is now more imperative than ever to work collaboratively as a region to fill the skills gap through proper education and job training.”
Lightweight materials are increasingly being utilized by suppliers in the automobile, aerospace, ground vehicles, shipping, rail and defense manufacturing industries. By utilizing lighter materials, vehicles have improved performance and use less fuel, according to industry officials.