QUALITY, AVAILABLE LABOR
For manufacturers of chemical or polymer products, West
Virginia offers the right work force. There are over 131,000
people working in West Virginia, and counties in adjacent
states, who have the skills most in demand. Businesses
will find over 45,000 workers in key occupations like
machinery operation; over 35,000 workers in industrial
and machinery maintenance; and 10,300 chemists,
engineers and related technicians.
Workers with the Skills Needed by the Chemical and Polymer Manufacturing Industry
| Occupational Title |
Number Working in WV’s Labor Shed |
| Chemical plant and system operators |
660 |
| Chemical equipment operators and tenders |
427 |
| Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders |
2,791 |
| Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders |
7,607 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders |
2,063 |
| Machine feeders and off bearers |
3,548 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
1,870 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
5,786 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
40 |
| Maintenance and repair workers, general |
32,505 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery |
2,912 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand |
20,326 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators |
18,853 |
| Mechanical Engineers |
3,128 |
| Chemical Engineers |
367 |
| Chemical Technicians |
1,119 |
| Chemists |
784 |
| Industrial Engineers |
2,980 |
| Industrial Engineering Technicians |
979 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technicians |
570 |
| Engineering Technicians, All Other |
443 |
| First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers |
17,951 |
| First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Helpers, Laborers and Material Movers |
3,702 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistic; Workforce West Virginia; other states’ bureaus of workforce statistics.
West Virginia has the nation’s second-lowest employee turnover rate across all industries, and has the nation’s lowest rate for manufacturing industries. This loyal, dedicated workforce means lower recruitment and training costs and bigger bottom lines.
Advanced training and technical assistance in machining, composite fabrication and manufacturing technology is available from six institutions offering extensive, industry-designed associate degree programs in chemical technologies specifically to meet the work force needs of the industry. These institutions include: