SIA Ready to Address Work Force Challenge

Subaru of Indiana Automotive.

Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now

This audio file is brought to you by

0:00

0:00

Loading audio file, please wait.

Speed
1.00

• 0.25
• 0.50
• 0.75
• 1.00
• 1.25
• 1.50
• 1.75
• 2.00

The executive vice president of Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. in Lafayette says it is "certainly going to be a challenge" to fill the large number of positions coming from this week’s expansion announcement. Tom Easterday says ongoing training partnerships with Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University will help train candidates for the 1,200 new openings created by the $140 million expansion.

SIA says increased demand for its vehicles led to the need to increase capacity by 100,000 units per year. Easterday says, when the hiring is complete, the plant’s work force will stand at about 5,000. SIA currently employs about 3,800 workers and produces about 300,000 vehicles per year. The plant produces the Subaru Outback, Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry.

Easterday says the biggest challenge comes in finding workers trained in highly-skilled areas like tool and dye and maintenance. He believes the automaker’s pay and benefits will attract skilled workers, and the company’s in-house training program will help bridge the remaining skills gap.