Light industrial jobs

Do you enjoy working with your hands? Do you prefer to be up and moving around? Are you the person your friends and family can count on to make sure something’s been done—and done right? If so, then you may enjoy an industrial job! Working in basic industries, you’ll have an active job that allows you to spend your time making items and being part of an industry that builds communities.

From entry-level to seasoned professionals, Spherion places hard-working people in a wide variety of light industrial jobs in flexible, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire positions. Click to see our available positions.

What light industrial jobs entail

Light industrial jobs, like those in the manufacturing and warehouse sectors, are crucial for creating the goods that make our economy run. In basic industries, raw materials are brought to a factory or production plant, where they are transformed into new products, inspected, stored, and shipped out to buyers. In particular, light industrial jobs are focused on consumer-oriented products like electronics or clothing, rather than heavy machinery.

The pool of available light industrial jobs is broad, which means that exact responsibilities will vary widely depending on your role and where you work. For instance, you may work as a quality control technician, responsible for the final step of the production process and ensuring that goods are made correctly and are ready for consumers. Or you might work as a grinder, setting up lathes and grinding machines to help fabricate parts that go into different consumer goods. While the job requirements for different industrial jobs will vary, anyone working in basic industries will need to possess an attention to detail and a commitment to quality and safety.

What you can expect working a light industrial job

For the most part, those working in manufacturing jobs work in factories or production plants. They typically work in shifts, and the exact time of those shifts will vary by employer. For instance, some employers may only need employees from 9-5, while others may extend factory hours to earlier in the morning or later in the evening—or potentially even 24 hours. These extended working hours are especially common for those in charge of safety or machine repair.

This makes an industrial job a great choice for those looking for flexibility that allows them to schedule work around a spouse’s schedule or caretaking needs.

In general, you can expect to spend the bulk of your time on your feet, moving around machines or across the factory floor. And because you’ll typically need to use machinery or lift goods and parts as part of your job, you should be able to lift at least 25 pounds comfortably.

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Workers in basic industries are usually paid hourly wages. While pay will depend on your position, your job title, and location, most workers earn between $18-$20 an hour. Managerial or supervisory positions will typically see higher wages, as responsibilities increase. In addition, some of the best paying jobs in basic industries are those that require specific certifications or knowledge of and experience with particular technologies. For instance, a certified CNC machinist can expect higher pay than an order picker.

If you’re interested in seeing recent salary information for the kind of light industrial jobs or basic industries jobs you can find in your area, reach out to your local Spherion office. They can provide you with a salary guide that’s tailored to your city, town, or region, so you know exactly what kind of salary you can expect when you’re applying for a position.

What qualifications do light industrial jobs require?

For the most part, industrial jobs require little to no formal education, though some employers may look for a high school diploma or a GED. Some employers may look more favorably on someone with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, but this is by no means necessary. Typically, everything you need to know will be covered in on-the-job training, which your employer will coordinate for you.

Some industrial jobs require specialized training or certifications in order to operate a certain piece of machinery or conduct repairs. For example, forklift operators must be properly trained on how to use this piece of equipment in order to ensure worksite safety, and possessing an OSHA certification can make you a more attractive hire for a position like this. However, within basic industries, being a hard worker who is detail-oriented and works well with others can make up for a lack of experience or education.

Where your light industrial career can go

As the demand for consumer goods continues to rise, we’ll see jobs continue to open up in basic industries. On average, 989,000 manufacturing jobs will open up each year—which means there is plenty of opportunity for new employees to enter the sector!

In addition, a light industrial job can introduce you to new people, new companies, and new opportunities. Many people working in basic industries find that their position sparks new interests that can further their career into engineering, management, heavy industrial work, and more.

Manufacturing

Production

Warehousing

Distribution

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Light industrial jobs

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