Florida Today: Boosting High-Tech Manufacturing Jobs

Originally published in Florida Today, August 19, 2011

Palm Bay – George Moore strolled through the expensive production room at MC Assembly late last month.

The 55-year old Moore, who joined the contract manufacturer in 2005 and became its chief executive officer two years later, didn’t necessarily look like a trendsetter in his khaki slacks and blue dress shirt. But many in Brevard County’s economic development community hope he is one.

Or at least a weather vane.

In the past 18 months, Moore has helped increase business for MC Assembly, which in turn has allowed him to hire 100 more workers, boosting the workforce to about 800.  And he hopes the company’s recently obtained AS 9100 certification will generate more work and the need for even more workers.

“We’re forecasting significant growth in 2012,” Moore said of his operation, which mostly makes electronic components for a variety of larger customers.

Growth in manufacturing employment has been sporadic and not enough to stem an overall decline. Over the past 20-plus years, in fact, the number of manufacturing jobs has fallen from more than 30,000 to 20,400 according to the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation. That’s the lowest it’s been since 1991.

But the benefits jobs in some areas of manufacturing bring to a community make creating them a high priority.

“Typically, high-tech manufacturing jobs offer above-average wages, which generally results in more dollars flowing into the economy,” said Linda Weatherman, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.  “As discretionary income and the tax base grows, area businesses benefit from increased consumer spending and more dollars are available for essential services, leading to an overall improved quality of life for the community.”