Inflation-adjusted output per worker in Delaware manufacturing has increased 27 percent since 2000, while output per worker in other Delaware industries has fallen 4 percent, according to a new report from Decon First.
Increased productivity led to rising wages. Manufacturing wages rose 47 percent between 2000 and 2015, compared to a 41 percent rise across private industry. The average wage in private industry in 2015 was $54,004, while the average manufacturing wage was $64,086.
Output per worker is increasing because, excepting the poultry processing industry, lower-productivity industries have had the greatest number of job losses and h
Output per worker is increasing because lower-productivity industries have had the greatest number of job losses, while high-productivity industries have prevailed, the report said.
After a huge decline, Delaware manufacturing employment has stabilized, the report said. Increasingly the manufacturing positions remaining required stronger reading and math skills to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and demands for cross training. The report called for the business community to address the performance of Delaware’s public schools to help meet this demand.
