rise as much as 5 an hour the pressure is even more intense for smaller suppliers as their wage rates are lower than the automakers and large suppliers industry officials said the national unemployment rate stood at 79 in september and federal officials said people misclassifying themselves as employed but absent from work meant the rate actually would have been 83 in durable goods manufacturing however the labor market is tighter with an unemployment rate of 57 indiana for instance lost almost 85000 manufacturing jobs in march and april but subsequently regained almost 51000 through august bringing employment in the sector to about 501000 people michigans auto sector employment was almost halved to about 96000 people at the height of the outbreak in april but rebounded 71 through august that tighter job market has suppliers taking unusual steps to attract and retain employees friday pizza parties are just the price of entry one laser mechanics company outside detroit hired a teacher to help employees children with their virtual schooling from the companys training room as a way to encourage attendance according to dan hearsch managing director in the auto practice for consultancy alixpartners fear of overworking employees has ceos altering work shifts as a way to minimize overtime industry officials said you end up working them excessive overtime then they get disenchanted and leave and then you get new people in said james sheehan north american ceo for mubea a maker of automotive chassis body and powertrain parts like most companies mubea pays hiring and referral bonuses of as much as 2000 sheehan has also authorized fees as high as 4000 to hire temporary workers who impress suppliers also have made hiring concessions including waived drug tests and reworded job descriptions to stress safety said melissa hassett a vice president who works with manufacturers at staffing company manpowergroup theyre terrified of the upcoming flu season because theyre not staffed today she said of companies reuters published on oct 9 2020 at 0812 am ist telegram facebook copy link be the first one to comment comment now comments comment now read comment 1 all comments post post find this comment offensive choose your reason below and click on the submit button this will alert our moderators to take actions reasons for reporting foul language defamatory inciting hatred against a certain community out of context spam others report join the community of 2m industry professionals subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights analysis download etauto app get realtime updates save your favourite articles scan to download app us auto suppliers fatory jobs workers in auto component sector united automobile workers raw material homenewsauto componentsus auto suppliers scramble to fill factory jobs