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Our strong communities and diverse and growing population keep Macon County on rise.
With a large laborshed and high education standards, Macon’s strength is its people.

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Aerospace

Education
Aerospace Companies
Skilled Labor
How to Read This Data
Macon County
Labor Shed
Moton Field

Macon County offers many benefits to the growing aerospace industry. We are flanked by Boeing to our south and the large aerospace complex to our north in Huntsville, with more than 80 aerospace industries and service providers within the region. Macon County is also centrally located to five large military bases with an aviation/aerospace mission.

The legendary Moton Field, located in Tuskegee, features a 5000+ foot runway, with plans to expand to 8400 feet and offers flight training and FBO services from Golden Eagle Aviation. It also boasts immediate access to Interstate 85 and available space for building and development on the airfield property. Other large sites are available just outside the airfield property, offering aerospace manufacturers of all sizes quick access and a great location. Major commercial airports are nearby, including Atlanta Hartsfield, Birmingham, and Montgomery.

The industry is growing as well, with Aerospace Engineering and Research graduates from Auburn and Tuskegee University – both programs located just a few miles from Moton Field. Engineering graduates have more than doubled in the past ten years with many seeking local opportunities. Just to our Northwest, the University of Alabama also offers an Aerospace Engineering degree as well.

Area Aerospace Companies

GKN

  • Leading global tier one supplier of airframe and engine structures, landing gear, electrical interconnection systems, transparencies, and aftermarket services
  • Supplies products and services to a wide range of commercial and military aircraft and engine prime contractors, and other tier one suppliers

GE Aviation

  • Among the top aircraft engine suppliers
  • Offers engines for the majority of commercial aircraft

Aerojet Rocketdyne

  • American rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer

BAE Systems, Inc.

  • Aerospace and Defense company
  • Top 10 supplier to the Pentagon
  • Develops civilian and military aerospace equipment, guidance systems, and electronic warfare systems

Lockheed Martin

  • Global aerospace, defense, securtity and technology company
  • One of the largest companies in the aerospace industry, and largest defense company
  • Develops aircraft, radar technologies, and other military systems

Our Companies

Hose and Belting Manufacturers
0 % More

Than the US National Average

Hardware Manufacturers
0 % More

Than the US National Average

Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturers
0 % More

Than the US National Average

See More

Education

Tuskegee University

  • 5 Mechanical and Aerospace degree programs
  • 51 graduates of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2015
  • Access to several facilities such as wind tunnels and a satellite laboratory
  • Only historically black college or university (HBCU) with an accredited aerospace engineering program

Auburn University

  • 6 Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering degree programs
  • 297 graduates of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2015
  • Provides unique cutting-edge educational and research opportunities, including space exploration, national defense, air transportation, communications and sustainable energy
  • Covers areas including aeroacoustics, aerospace structures, orbital mechanisms, rocket propulsion and more

University of Alabama

  • 8 Mechanical and Aerospace degree programs
  • 476 graduates of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2016

Wallace State Community College Dothan

  • The Aviation/Flight Technology program consists of flight and ground instruction, which will qualify students for various careers in the aviation industry
  • Students will have the opportunity to acquire FAA certification for the Private Pilot, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot certificates
  • An articulation agreement with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University allows WSCC aviation students to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics upon completion of their Wallace State course work

Our Workforce

Industrial Machinery Mechanics
0
Engineers
0
Computer Programmers
0
See More

Aerospace Companies in our Labor Shed

  • 32 Machine Shops
  • 18 All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing
  • 14 Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing
  • 4 Mineral Wool Manufacturing
  • 4 Plate Work Manufacturing
  • 3 Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
  • 3 Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
  • 3 Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing
  • 2 Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing
  • 2 Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring
  • 2 Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing
  • 2 Other Engine Equipment Manufacturing
  • 2 Plastics Pipe and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing
  • 2 Industrial Mold Manufacturing
  • 2 Hardware Manufacturing
  • 2 Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing
  • 1 Spring Manufacturing
  • 1 Paint and Coating Manufacturing
  • 1 Motor and Generator Manufacturing
  • 1 Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing
  • 1 Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Stamping (except Automotive)
  • 1 Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing
  • 1 Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
  • 1 Stationery Product Manufacturing
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Aerospace Companies vs US Average

  • 417% more Rubber and Plastics Hoses and Belting Manufacturing
  • 333% more Hardware Manufacturing
  • 315% more Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
  • 303% more Other Fabricated Wire Product Manufacturing
  • 292% more Other Engine Equipment Manufacturing
  • 238% more Stationery Product Manufacturing
  • 192% more All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing
  • 104% more Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing
  • 76% more Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
  • 71% more Spring Manufacturing
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Skilled Labor in our Labor Shed

  • 1,929 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
  • 1,649 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
  • 1,525 Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  • 1,030 Computer Programmers
  • 981 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
  • 764 Machinists
  • 625 Computer Occupations, All Other
  • 572 Industrial Engineers
  • 519 First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand
  • 482 Helpers- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
  • 420 Industrial Production Managers
  • 406 Computer and Information Systems Managers
  • 389 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
  • 382 Extruding/Drawing Machine Setters/Operators/Tenders, Metal/Plastic
  • 299 Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
  • 293 Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
  • 274 Mechanical Engineers
  • 265 Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
  • 256 Helpers- Electricians
  • 242 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
  • 214 Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic
  • 158 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
  • 156 Industrial Engineering Technicians
  • 135 Painters, Transportation Equipment
  • 124 Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians
  • 119 Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
  • 94 Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 86 Engineers, All Other
  • 80 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
  • 72 Mechanical Drafters
  • 64 Aerospace Engineers
  • 51 Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
  • 50 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
  • 46 Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal/Plastic
  • 39 Mechanical Engineering Technicians
  • 38 Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
  • 36 Upholsterers
  • 34 Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
  • 34 Sales Engineers
  • 27 Avionics Technicians
  • 21 Materials Engineers
  • 20 Physicists
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Skilled Labor Vs US Average

  • 327% more Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
  • 196% more Extruding/Drawing Machine Setters/Operators/Tenders, Metal/Plastic
  • 172% more Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 140% more Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  • 112% more Helpers- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
  • 99% more Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
  • 96% more Computer Programmers
  • 89% more Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
  • 84% more Helpers- Electricians
  • 76% more Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
  • 60% more Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
  • 53% more Coating/Painting/Spraying Machine Setters/Operators/Tenders
  • 50% more First-Line Supervisors of Helpers/Laborers/Material Movers (Hand)
  • 46% more First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
  • 40% more Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
  • 33% more Industrial Production Managers
  • 33% more Industrial Engineering Technicians
  • 25% more Electrical/Electronics Repairers, Commercial, Industrial Equipment
  • 24% more Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
  • 22% more Industrial Engineers
  • 22% more Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
  • 22% more Painters, Transportation Equipment
  • 20% more Computer Occupations, All Other
  • 18% more Electrical/Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, Relay
  • 15% more First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
  • 9% more Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
  • 6% more Machinists
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Growth Occupations

  • 34% more Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators
  • 24% more Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
  • 20% more Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  • 18% more Computer Controlled Machine Tool Programmers, Metal/Plastic
  • 17% more Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
  • 15% more Extruding/Drawing Machine Setters/Operators/Tenders, Metal/Plastic
  • 13% more Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters/Operators/Tenders
  • 13% more Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic
  • 13% more Industrial Engineering Technicians
  • 12% more Machinists
  • 12% more First-Line Supervisors of Helpers/Laborers/Material Movers (Hand)
  • 12% more Helpers- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
  • 10% more Industrial Engineers
  • 10% more Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
  • 9% more Computer and Information Systems Managers
  • 9% more Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
  • 8% more Industrial Production Managers
  • 8% more First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
  • 7% more Computer Programmers
  • 6% more Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
  • 6% more Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders
  • 6% more Electrical/Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, Relay
  • 6% more Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 5% more Computer Occupations, All Other
  • 5% more First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
  • 4% more Electrical/Electronics Repairers, Commercial/Industrial Equipment
  • 3% more Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians
  • 3% more Sales Engineers
  • 1% more Mechanical Engineers
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Targeted Sectors - Reading This Data

Our Laborshed:

The Macon County labor shed includes a 8 county area surrounding Macon County. This area contains a total population of 665,940.

How to Read This Data:

The company and labor data for this sector are derived from our labor shed area, as defined above.

The data points are presented several ways:

  1. The number of companies supporting a given sector in our labor shed, stated as an empirical value.
  2. A comparison of the numbers of these companies in our labor shed vs the US average, stated as a percentage.
  3. Skilled labor (SICS) supporting a given sector in our labor shed, stated as an empirical value.
  4. A comparison of the numbers of skilled laborers by skill classification in our labor shed vs the US average, stated as a percentage.
  5. Growth occupations in our labor shed over a given number of years, stated as a percentage.


This data is provided by the University of Southern Mississippi’s Economic Development Research Center.