Auto giant Ford is celebrating the launch of its 2013 Escape by announcing it will add more than 1,300 hourly workers at its Louisville, Kentucky assembly plant. The company has been able retain 1,800 automotive jobs at the Louisville plant after investing more than $600 million to convert it to one of Ford's most versatile factories in the U.S. The plant is capable of producing up to 6 different vehicles at the same time. "Manufacturing flexibility is critical to staying competitive in today's global automotive marketplace," Jim Tetreault, Ford vice president of North America Manufacturing,noted. "Our ability to produce up to six vehicles from a single plant gives us a sizable advantage in quickly adjusting our products and volumes to match changes in customer preferences and market factors." Ford has hired more than 5,200 hourly workers already this year, and said it was on track to create 12,000 automotive jobs by 2015 in order to meet strong customer demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for skilled assemblers and fabricators are expected to increase by 5% through 2020 and be best for those with postsecondary training. |