The Job Market in 2011: Ford Has another Bright Idea – Will Hire 7000 in the Next Two Years
By 2012, Ford Motor Co. will have 7,000 more workers in the U.S. Among these will be 750 engineers charged to design a better battery and technology to overtake General Motor’s current lead with the Chevy Volt. The engineers hired will focus on electric or hybrid vehicles.
In 2011 the company will put 4,000 manufacturing personnel to work. Half of these will be for the assembly plant in Louisville, Ky. The Ford Escape is to be assembled in Louisville beginning late in 2011. The remaining 2,500 employees to bring the total to 7,000 will be hired in 2012.
Recruiting will initially center on Detroit this week. Other cities expected to provide workers include Durham and Raleigh, North Carolina and San Jose, California. The plan is to look first in markets where Ford previously laid off employees.
New hires currently make about $14 per hour. Veteran worker make twice that rate. Ford will reap savings from the new start ups.
Ford brought three new hybrid and electric vehicles to the Detroit Auto Show. One of these is to be available in the fall of 2011. It is the electric version of the Ford Focus. This is Ford’s first electric car entry on the auto market. It joins the Transit Connect van electric version already marketed.
C-Max minivan plug-in and hybrid versions are to be marketed beginning in 2012. It will have a range of 500 miles while on the gas / battery combination.
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