Hiring in the automotive sector is expected to rise quickly in the second half of 2013, as increased auto sales and an improving economy lead automakers to feel more optimistic about their prospects than in recent years.
Expected hiring numbers over the full calendar year have been predicted to reach 35,000, which is a sharp increase from the 8,000 hired from January to May, according to The Associated Press. Vehicle sales could reach 15.5 million for the year, giving manufacturers opportunities for job growth.
Chrysler, Honda, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz and Ford plan to collectively add more than 13,000 jobs to their ranks this year in states including Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Texas and Alabama, while parts companies both large and small are expected to add even more additional jobs.
Job growth in the industry has been steady for the past few years, as one in every four manufacturing jobs added in the United States since 2009 has been in the auto industry.
An example of the increased job growth demand can be found in Auburn, Alabama, where automotive supplier Donghee plans to hire 80 fuel tank plant workers, according to the Indiana Daily Journal.