Local durable goods jobs saw decline but major projects point to rebound

The Greensboro-High Point area has lost more than 1,000 jobs over the last year in the durable goods sector.

Durable goods are basically things built to last. Think computer chips, not potato chips.

In the coming years, an influx of such jobs is expected in the region at places like Boom Supersonic and Toyota’s electric vehicle battery manufacturing site.

Last year though wasn’t so great for the durable goods sector in Greensboro-High Point. Based on data provided by APM Research Lab and Marketplace there was a 4 percent drop in jobs over the 12 months ending in June. 

Fred Henry, deputy director of the public/private workforce organization GuilfordWorks, says the numbers are part of a long-term trend of manufacturing job losses in the area. But he thinks a shift toward clean energy at Toyota and other companies should open doors for the local workforce.

"But it’s really just making sure we get that word out and share with them what these opportunities look like compared to maybe when their parents and grandparents were in certain fields,” he says.

Despite the losses, there are still over 26,000 people working in the durable goods sector in this area of Guilford County.