Employers responding to Skills 2010 were grouped into three clusters according to their respective business operations. General observations regarding each cluster are below.

Specific data regarding the total positions by business cluster is also available.

Manufacturing Cluster

The Manufacturing Cluster emerges once again as the strongest area of growth for job seekers, with nearly 11,000 new and replacement openings predicted. 

The greatest employment needs will be in:

• Production- assemblers, fabricators, welders, machine operators, CNC operators, machinists, inspectors & testers; maintenance & repair workers, packers, material handlers, material operators and electricians.  Other specialty type production jobs include bindery operators, press technicians, production helpers, truck drivers, brick layers, and plumbers.
• Managerial – operational and production managers as well as for other supervisory positions
• Professional/Technical – engineers, CAD/CAM, quality control, distribution managers and IT positions
• Marketing – customer service and sales representatives positions
• Support/Clerical – secretaries/administrative assistants, shipping & receiving, and production planning. 

Information Technology Cluster

The IT Cluster shows the need for nearly 2,100 workers with the greatest needs in the following areas:

• Managerial – production and finance managers and other supervisory positions
• Professional/Technical – employment recruiters and IT positions
• Marketing – customer service and sales representatives positions
• Support/Clerical – secretaries/administrative assistants

Life Science Cluster

The Life Science Cluster shows the need for 1,550 workers with the greatest needs in the following areas:

• Managerial – operational and other supervisory positions
• Professional/Technical – LPN, RN, lab technicians
• Support/Clerical – food service, maintenance and nurse aides