FORT WAYNE MSA
TOTAL WAGE AND SALARIED EMPLOYMENT
200 COMPOSITE INDEX OF AREA LEADING INDICATORS
140
190 130
120 +-~-----.-~--.----~-----.---+ 60
78 80 82 84 86
*Whitley County added. Adams and Wells Counties deleted.
Business Review for
Vol. 4 No. 3a Community Research Institute, Bureau of Business & Economic Research
Indiana University - Purdue University at Fort Wayne
October 1985
FAVORABLE LEADING INDICATORS' INDEX TREND FINALLY
CONFIRMED BY AN EMPLOYMENT INCREASE
The future economic performance of the Fort Wayne area economy still appears favorable according
to the Leading Indicators' Index for the area. After remaining stuck at the 161,000 level for almost a year,
employment broke to the upside last June.
The area labor market continues to emit a hodgepodge of mixed signals: manufacturing employment
decreases while nonmanufacturing employment increases and some indicators signal a tight labor supply
while others signal just the opposite.
Leading Indicators, Index. The Composite Index of
Leading Economic Indicators for the Fort Wayne area
advanced 4.7 percentage points during the four month
period from June through September. All four components
aided the advance. As of September, the Index stands at 108.4
percent of its 1979 average.
Employment. As important as the Index's continued
improvement is the fact that employment resumed growing
after an 11 month hiatus at the 161,000 plateau. Specifically,
nonagricultural payroll employment in the Fort Wayne metropolitan
area - Allen, DeKalb And Whitley counties -
advanced 2,300 in the four month period to a seasonally
adjusted 163,100 in September. However, the labor market
continues to be a swirl of crosscurrents.
All the recent growth in employment has occurred in nonmanufacturing.
(See Figure 3.)
Durable-goods manufacturing employment has been
under pressure for the last year. (See Figure 4.) The not
seasonally adjusted employment was 33,200 in September, a
nominal decrease of 400 from the previous September. However,
industrial use of electricity has increased modestly since
the beginning of the year. (See Figure 5.) The same dichotomy
has occurred nationally. Manufacturing employment has
been decreasing at the same time that industrial production
has been increasing.
Durable-goods manufacturing employment should start
to increase shortly as hiring begins for General Motor's new
light-duty truck-assembly plant, scheduled to start up in the
fall of 1986.
After five years, the unemployment rate for the area has
once again assumed its ((natural" position below the national
unemployment rate. (See Figure 6.) Specifically, area
unemployment was 5.7 per cent in August, compared with
7.0 per cent nationally. That the area labor market has continued
to tighten is reinforced by the persistent increases
in help wanted advertising (Figure 7.) and the Greater Fort
Wayne Chamber of Commerce's recently released plan to
recruit engineers to the area.
Contradicting the conclusion of a tight labor market is
the fact that Burlington Northern was literally swamped with
applicants when it held a mass recruiting activity in preparation
for beginning operations shortly at Baer Field. The
phenomenom is not perforce inconsistent with a tight labor
market. It is possible that the applicants were already
employed, but more likely is that they were labor market
dropouts reentering or structurally unemployed still
searching.
Housing. Residential construction in the Fort Wayne area
continues a phenomenal recovery. Monthly single-family
building permit issuances are now averaging 100 per month
versus approximately 20 per month in 1982. Figure 8 shows
that area construction activity is now almost on par with
activity nationally.
Financial Components of the Leading Indicators,
Index. That financial liquidity nationally has expanded
rapidly is a matter of much publicized record. The national
money supply as measured by M1 has increased in excess
of a 10 per cent annualized rate throughout 1985. Much less
publicized but equally impressive has been the increase in
the area's financial liquidity, which is also a component in the
Index. Deposits in the four ((Fort Wayne" banks have
increased over 15 percent in the last 12 months.
A PROSPECTIVE ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMY FOR 1986
by
Thomas L. Guthrie
The current cyclical business expansion will celebrate its fourth birthday, which is old by historical
standards, at the start of 1986. But expect it to live through 1986, experiencing moderate real growth
and relatively low inflation. The risks to the forecast are many, but all others pale in the face of $200
billion federal deficits and $150 billion trade deficits which will continue without a change in current
policies.
Although the profession's record is modest at best, economists
still can not resist responding to the persistent
question, "Where's the economy headed?" It's their favorite
parlor game. Moreover, business people seem inexorably
hooked on continually asking the question, despite the
modest forecasting record. Whether business types simply
enjoy watching the long-running comedy or want to reaffirm
what they already know about the forecasting record
is debatable, but that the ritual continues is not. (I suspect
the real reason is that although the success rate of economists
is modest, it still has been of value to decision makers.)
Furthermore, the question enjoys a seasonal peak each fall,
as many organizations enter that most joyous season -
annual budget preparation. Since I prepare a modest- in
terms of detail only- forecast each fall in response to the
numerous requests of area organizations and individuals, it
seems appropriate to publish it in IMPACI
The forecast is an amalgam of my perceptions and many
perceptions presented at the National Association of Business
Economists' convention. The association meets annually
in early fall to assess the national and international
business outlook, both short run and long run.
NO RECESSION. Business cycle buffs are quick to point out
that the current business cycle expansion is approaching old
age by historical standards. Specifically, the current expansion
will be three years old this December, and peacetime
business upturns have lasted less than three years on
average. But there is no law that says a cyclical expansion
must die because it is three years old. Remember the '60s
when an expansion which began in March 1961 did not die
until December 1969. There are typical reasons for the death
of a cyclical expansion: high and rising interest rates, especially
short-term rates; rising inflation; excess inventories
across a broad spectrum of industries; and a pushing to the
FIGURE 2
FIXED-WEIGHTED PRSCE INDEXES
30
25
20
15
1- z
1.1.1 u 10
~
1.1.1
Q.
5
0
-5
-10
77
2
FOR GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AND IMPORTS
ANNUALIZED RATES OF CHANGE, 1972 WEIGHTS
78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85
limit of capacity constraints in several industries. These
conditions do not predominate today; hence, the conclusion
that a recession is not imminent.
REAL GNP GROWTH OF THREE TO FOUR PERCENT.1 This
compares with growth rates of 6.4, 5.7, and an estimated
2.5 percent for 1983 through 1985, the first three years of
the current expansion. It is abundantly clear that the Federal
Reserve Board is prepared to pump liquidity into the economy
until it sees the " whites of the eyes" of higher real
growth - compared with the relatively anemic performance
of the last four quarters. Since last December, money
(M1) has grown at an annualized rate of 11.5 percent, almost
double the pace set in 1984.2 Furthermore, the recent
decision of the group of five (G5) countries (United States,
Japan, England, France, and Germany) to reduce the
strength of the (U.S.) dollar in foreign trade puts pressure
on the Federal Reserve to supply additional liquidity.3 Expect
growth in the first half of 1986 to outpace growth
in the last half. When the Federal Reserve spots "the eyes,"
it may find them larger than preferred and respond by
significantly slowing the flow of liquidity to the party.
INFLATION RISE TO 4.5 PERCENT. This compares with
inflation rates of 3.4, 4.0, and an estimated 3.8 percent for
1983 through 1985, as measured by the Consumer Price
Index - Urban (CPI-U). Contrary to popular belief,4 inflation
is not dead; it's just hiding behind falling commodity
prices, especially oil and agricultural products, and the rising
value of the (U.S.) dollar in foreign exchange. Just as the
quadrupling and then doubling by OPEC of crude oil prices
in 1973 and 1979, respectively, shocked U.S. inflation upward
(see Figure 2), falling crude oil prices and the rising dollar
are creating downward shocks.5
To get a better idea of the basic, underlying rate of inflation
in the U.S. economy currently, examine the service
sector which is more insulated from foreign competition.
(It's difficult to import haircuts, although it should be noted
that the service sector is substantially more than just haircuts.)
There inflation is running at a 5 to 6 percent annual
rate.
Conversely, don't expect a dramatic jump in the inflation
rate immediately. It appears that crude oil prices still have
at least one more significant move downward, possibly to
around $22 per barrel. This obviously augurs for lower, not
higher, inflation. However, these transitory influences will
once again turn neutral or negative. For example, every ten
percent decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar is estimated
to add one percent to the inflation rate over the succeeding
year, and remember, the G5 countries have announced with
great fanfare their intention to drive the dollar lower. My
point is simply that to bet ((the bundle" on four percent or
less inflation for the rest of the decade appears extremely
risky at this stage of the game!
INTEREST RATES RISE. A forecasted increase in GPN growth
and the inflation rate almost mandate a forecast of higher
interest rates by at least one to two percentage points.
RISKS TO THE FORECAST. The risks to the forecast are many,
including such currently popular ones as a consumer overextended
with debt, and the farm problem. However, all
those risks pale in comparison with an annual federal deficit
of $200 billion ((as far as the eye can see" and an annual
trade deficit of $150 billion. Whether the two phenomena
are linked or not is still being debated by economists, so
let's bypass that issue. What remains is stark evidence of two
fundamental imbalances in the economy. In the jargon of
economists, the system is not in equilibrium; worse than
that, most economists maintain that it still is not even headed
toward equilibrium. (See Table 1.) When these imbalances,
if they are not fixed, cause the system to break is anyone's
guess; however, implicit in the forecast is the assumption
that the break will not occur in 1986.
The forecast also runs the risk of being derailed- at least
temporarily - even if the system is fixed before it does
break. That is, the process of fixing could have a short run
negative impact on the economy. However, this risk appears
minimal because the politicians appear to have the attitude
that (( it isn 't broken, so don't fix it." Ironically, when the
system does break, the politicians may not be in a position
to fix it. Picture the economy stumbling into recession,
which will cause the budget deficit to go from $200 billion
to $300 billion because of the automatic stabilizers (eg., unemployment
insurance) that kick in. The standard policy prescription
for getting out of a recession is to increase deficit
spending. Will politicians have the political will to suggest
raising the deficit from $300 billion to $400 billion? I doubt
it. That leaves only one tool - monetary policy - for
getting out of the recession, and most economists agree that
monetary policy is much better at halting a speeding
economy than at getting it started quickly.
TABLE 1.
GROWTH IN CONSTANT-DOLLAR CREDIT-MARKET DEBT*
FOR THE UNITED STATES
Total u.s.
Nonfinancial Government
Debt Debt
1952-1982 3.7% 0.3%
1982 2.2 8.4
1983 6.3 17.5
1984 8.3 11.8
*Annual percentage rates of change, deflated by the implicit GNP deflator.
1f ourth quarter to fourth quarter, not year average over year average.
2M1 includes currency, demand deposits, NOW and super NOW accounts.
JThe logic is that additional liquidity drives down interest rates, especially short-term
rates, thus reducin g the attractiveness of U.S. debt markets to foreigners. Since foreign
appetite for U.S. debt would be reduced, the need to convert fo reign currencies
into dollars, which are in turn used to purchase the debt, would be reduced. This
lowers the exchange price of dollars.
4" Living with Disinflation," Business Week, July 15, 1985. Pp. 54-60.
SA rising dollar lessens the cost of imports, thereby keeping an umbrella on domestic
prices of products which compete with the imports.
3
FIGURE 3
NONMANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT - FORT WAYNE MSA
1~ ,--------------------.-.,----.------.--------------.
140
130
§z ' 120 g 0 110
X
1- 100
~
~ 90
~
ffi 80
0..
70
60
76
FIGURE4
77 78 79 110 81 82 83 84 85 86
MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT- FORT WAYNE MSA
80.--------------------.-,,----.------.-------------~
70
<ii' 60
Q z
~ ~
;:)
0
J:
1- 40
~
Ill z 30
.~.. c.. 20
10
Durable
Nondurable
O~-nnnnrrrrrrrrrrr~.+~~ .. o4~~~~nnnr~~~~~
76 77
FIGURES
78 79 80 81 82 83 84
FORT WAYNE AREA INDUSTRIAL USE OF ELECTRICITY
5 TERM MOVING AVERAGE
85 86
100~-------------------.-.-----.------.--------------.
95
~ 90
:::;)
0
X 85 ;
~ 80
::::
~ 75
3
~ 70
65
4
76 77 78 79 110 81 82 83 84 85 86
SELECTED AREA ECONOMIC INDICATORS1
Composite Index of Leading Indicators,
1979 = 100 (Area)
Employment, in thousands
(Fort Wayne MSA)3
Total Wage and Salaried4
Manufacturing
Durable Goods
Non-Durable Goods
Non-Manufacturing
Miscellaneous
Retail Trade
Wholesale Trade
Unemployment (Fort Wayne MSA)3
Rate
New Unemployment Claimss
Help Wanted Advertising6
Finance (balance sheet level in millions
for four "Fort Wayne" banks)?
Total Bank Deposits, Current Dollars
Total Bank Deposits in Constant (1967)
Dollars8
Housing, New Single-family
Building Permits (Allen County)9
Transportation Retail Sales (U.s.po
Trucks
Heavy Duty
Medium Duty
Light Duty
Recreational Vehicle Deliveries11
All Towable RV's
All Motor Homes
Van Conversions
Autos, Annualized Rate in Millions
Domestics
Imports
Miscellaneous
Industrial Eledricity Sales in Million
Kilowatt Hours (Area) 12
Latest Month;
Number of
Months Averaged
Sept.
Sept.
Aug.
Sept. ;3
Sept. ;2
Sept. ;3
Sept. ;6
Sept. ;3
Sept. ;5
Sept. ;3
Aug. ;5
Sept. ;3
Sept. ;5
Latest
Value
108.4
163100
45.5
33.2
12.3
118.5
77.0
30.4
11 .1
5.8
3040.3
7523.5
2375.3
734.3
98.3
17,204
4569
327,305
10.8
6.1
14.3
7.921
2.444
87.411
Prior
Month's
Value
108.2
165400
47.2
35.1
12.1
117.3
76.1
30.2
11.0
6.6
2947.7
6926.0
2359.6
730.8
98.7
17,478
4281
296,968
10.9
6.5
14.8
6.937
2.378
88.190
1AII data series are seasonally adjusted. Shaded areas in the figures delineate official recessionary periods.
2+ =favorable; 0 = neutral; -=unfavorable
Year
Ago
Value
96.6
158800
48.2
35.8
12.4
113.8
74.4
28.7
10.7
6.9
2698.7
5912.5
2049.8
654.7
51.8
18,297
4797
269,373
12.2
6.9
15.4
6.588
1.962
86.161
Percentage Change From
Prior Year Ago
Month
0.2
1.4
-3.6
-5.4
1.7
1.0
1.2
0.7
0.9
-12.1
3.1
8.6
0.7
0.5
-0.4
1.6
6.7
10.2
-0.9
-6.2
-3.4
14.2
2.8
-0.9
12.2
2.7
-5.6
-7.3
-0.8
4.1
3.5
5.9
3.7
-17.4
12.7
27.2
15.9
12.2
89.8
-6.0
-4.8
21.5
-11.5
-11.6
-7.1
20.2
24.6
1.5
3Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) consists of Adams, Allen, DeKalb and Wells counties. Source: Indiana Employment Security Division.
Shortrun
lmpact2
+
+
0
+
+
+
+
+
0
+
+
+
+
0
0
+
0
0
0
+
+
0
4Total wage and salaried employment shown on page 1 and the table is not eq ivalent to the summation of categories of employment shown in Figure 4 and in
the table because (1) the process of deseasonalizing produces some minor differences and (2) employees on strike are counted as employed in the former and
as unemployed in the latter.
scombination of Fort Wayne and Auburn offices.
6Data compiled by Community Research lnstitue. Source: Fort Wayne Newspapers.
7Data compiled by Community Research Institute. Sources: Anthony Wayne Bank, Fort Wayne National Bank, Lincoln National Bank & Trust Co., and Summit Bank.
BDeflator used is the non-seasonally adjusted CPI-U.
9Data compiled by Community Research Institute. Sources: Allen County Planning Commission, Fort Wayne Community Development & Planning Department,
and City-County Building Department.
10Sou rce: Motor Vehicle Manufadurers Association of the United States, Inc.
11Source: Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.
12Data compiled by Community Research Institute. Source: Indiana & Michigan Eledric Co.
HData compiled by Commuity Research Institute. Source: Fort Wayne Board of Realtors®.
FIGURE6
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE- U.S. + FORT WAYNE MSA
14,--------------------.-.-----.------.--------------.
13
12
11
~ A
I II\
I ~ \
\
\
I
\
w -------------- \ --\ - -------
9
8
6
4
\
\ ....
I .
t t\ l, •
\,'\I ~ •\/ ~~ ,\ ,\ :'
'} •_;I \ 1 ~ • I 1
I' 'J
' \ ''" '
2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
FORT WAYNE AREA HELP WANTED ADVERTISING
2 TERM MOVING AVERAGE
FIGURE7
10~-----------.--.------.--------.------------------.
9
8
7
6
4
3
78 79 110 81 82 83 84 85 116
NOTE THAT THE BEGINNING YEAR IS 1978, NOT 1976
FIGURES BUILDING PERMITS FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES
U.S. AND ALLEN COUNTY
1.5 -.-------------;-:------.-.-----.------.---------------,
76 77 78 79 80 81 82
,I.
,' \ --- ----- _,_
,~ ,'
I \ I
I ,..,..
[\ ,'
,'
I
'' I
,I_ -"':\. ./I ------
'
83 84 85 86
5
The Tale of the Tape
Population change is one of the best
measures of the economic vitality of a
geographic area. After an exodus of
population for three consecutive years,
albeit at successively lessening rates (see
Table 2), the 13 counties in northeastern
Indiana recorded an estimated increase
of 5,500 persons, or 0.8 percent in 1984.1
However, it should be noted that the
increase has occurred in counties
outside the Fort Wayne metropolitan
area.
Allen County, the metropolitan hub of
northeastern Indiana with slightly less
than 45 percent of the approximately
660,000 population, lost almost 5,500
people between 1980 and 1983. It
experienced a small population gain of
300 in 1984. Although Allen County
dominated in terms of actual population
loss, Jay and Wabash counties
experienced the highest percentage
losses between 1980 and 1984, 5.8 and
3.9 percent, respectively.
LaGrange and Kosciusko counties
were the population growth leaders
with 7.6 and 3.8 percent, respectively, between
1980 and 1984. Both counties
were also distinguished in that population
grew every year. Both Huntington
and Kosciusko counties experienced
four digit level population increases in
1984.
•Population estimates are from th e U.S. Department of
Commerce, Bureau of the Census. The publication series is P-26,
local Population Estimates.
Table 2. Population Trends in Northeastern Indiana Counties, 1980-1984
POPULATION BY COUNTY, 1980-1984
April July July July July Change 1980-1984
County 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Number Percent
Allen 294,335 292,500 290,600 288,900 289,200 (5,135) -1.7
DeKalb 33,606 33,000 33,000 32,700 32,700 (906) -2.7
Whitley 25,215 26,300 26,000 26,300 26,500 285 1.1
FW Metro Area 354,156 351,800 349,600 347,900 348,400 (5,756) -1.6
Adams 29,619 29,700 29,400 29,600 29,800 181 0.6
Blackford 15,570 15,600 15,400 15,200 15,600 30 0.2
Huntington 35,596 34,900 34,200 34,000 35,100 (496) -1.4
Jay 23,239 23,000 22,400 21 ,900 21,900 (1,339) -5.8
Kosciusko 59,555 59,700 59,800 60,300 61,800 2,245 3.8
LaGrange 25,550 25,700 26,000 26,900 27,500 1,950 7.6
Noble 35,443 35,000 35,300 35,400 36,200 757 2.1
Steuben 24,694 24,500 24,600 24,500 25,000 306 1.2
Wabash 36,640 35,900 35,400 35,200 35,200 (1,440) -3.9
Wells 25,401 25,000 25,100 25,100 25,000 (401) -1.6
TOTAL 665,463 660,800 657,200 656,000 661,500 (3,963) -0.6
Yearly Percentage Change in Population
Yearly Population Change from 1981-1984 of Northeastern Indiana
Ranked by Total Percentage Change by County 1981-1984
July July July July 1980-1984 1.0
County 1981 1982 1983 1984 Percent 0.8
Lagrange 150 300 900 600 7.6
Kosciusko 145 100 500 1,500 3.8 0.6
Noble (443) 300 100 800 2.1 0.4
Steuben (194) 100 (100) 500 1.2
Whitley 85 (300) 300 200 1.1 f- 0.2
Adams 81 (300) 200 200 0.6 z
u.J
Blackford 30 (200) (200) 400 0.2 u 0.0
0:::
u.J
Huntington (696) (700) (200) 1,100 -1.4 0...
-0.2
Wells (401) 100 0 (100) -1.6
Allen (1,835) (1,900) (1,700) 300 -1.7 -0.4
DeKalb (606) 0 (300) 0 -2.7
Wabash (740) (500) (200) 0 -3.9 -0.6
Jay (239) (600) (500) 0 -5.8 -0.8
TOTAL (4,663) (3,600) (1,200) 5,500 -0.6
-1.0
1981 1982 1983 1984
6
COMPARISON OF HOURLY EARNINGS1 FOR OFFICE AND PLANT
WORKERS EMPLOYED IN SELECTED OCCUPATIONS COMMON TO
A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIES IN THE FORT WAYNE MSA2
June 19854 June 19845
Number of %Change in
workers included Med1an Middle
OccupationJ in the Survey From 1984 Median Mean Range Median Mean
Secretaries 639 6.3 7.71 7.99 6.78-8.91 7.25 7.57
Secretaries I 126 -3.9 6.61 7.09 6.10-7.32 6.88 7.05
Secretaries II 118 20.0 7.50 7.64 6.73-8.05 6.25 7.47
Secretaries Ill 250 6.3 7.71 7.95 7.04-8.55 7.25 7.47
Secretaries IV 120 11 .0 9.08 8.96 8.23-9.64 8.18 8.32
Secretaries V 19 44.1 10.45 10.40 8.94-11.80 7.25 7.75
Stenographers - - - - - 8.73 9.33
Stenographers II - - - - - 10.75 9.93
Typists 38 -6.8 5.63 6.39 5.56-6.67 6.04 6.51
Typists I 6 -1 .0 4.95 5.16 - 5.00 5.68
Typists II 32 -10.7 5.68 6.62 5.59-6.80 6.36 6.83
Word processors 58 - 6.62 6.87 6.07-7.70 - -
Word processors I 40 - 6.49 6.37 5.61-7.37 - -
File clerks 70 -1.9 4.54 5.05 4.24-5.97 4.63 4.98
File clerks I 27 5.3 4.21 4.61 3.95-5.22 4.00 4.46
File clerks Ill - - - - - 5.95 5.94
Messengers 8 41.1 6.87 6.83 - 4.87 5.43
Receptionists 17 - 5.05 5.69 4.81-6.25 - -
Switchboard operators 21 2.5 7.40 8.06 6.67-8.24 7.22 7.37
Key entry operators 247 2.6 6.41 6.77 5.55-7.71 6.25 6.79
Key entry operators I 138 3.7 6.21 6.27 5.48-6.50 5.99 6.39
Key entry operators II 109 -1.7 6.87 7.41 6.24-8.44 6.99 7.37
Computer operators 285 13.4 9.25 9.29 7.43-10.93 8.16 8.27
Computers operators I 71 22.2 6.93 7.20 6.54-7.93 5.67 6.07
Computer operators II 134 12.1 9.16 9.14 7.52-10.58 8.17 8.34
Computer operators Ill 80 13.5 11.64 11.40 10.04-12.12 10.26 10.35
Computer data librarians 9 - 9.18 8.46 - - -
Peripheral equipment operators - - - - - 7.54 10.17
Drafters 174 5.3 10.53 10.55 8.52-12.39 10.00 10.33
Drafters I 15 - 7.00 6.98 6.43-7.21 - -
Drafters Ill 68 11.2 10.70 11.52 10.00-13.62 9.62 9.34
Drafters IV 22 7.0 12.04 12.03 10.91-12.19 11.25 11.39
Drafters V 40 10.2 11.51 11.38 9.29-13.31 10.44 11.39
Electronics technicians 516 11.9 12.29 11.97 10.62-13.19 10.98 10.54
Electronics technicians I - - - - - 11 .89 10.57
Electronics technicians II 225 32.7 12.85 12.25 10.39-14.13 9.68 9.60
Electronics technicians Ill - - - - - 11.10 11.23
Maintenance carpenters 26 18.9 10.89 11.15 9.45-12.48 9.16 10.72
Maintenance electricians 189 1.3 12.85 12.42 10.91-13.94 12.69 12.16
Maintenance painters 7 - 11.33 10.75 - - -
Maintenance machinists 87 2.7 11.25 11.35 9.45-13.26 10.95 10.98
Maintenance mechanics (machinery) 479 -11 .6 10.13 10.81 9.18-13.14 11.46 10.85
Maintenance pipefitters 64 1.3 12.85 13.44 12.85-15.05 12.69 11 .46
Motor vehicle mechanics 232 3.0 10.56 10.94 10.06-11.87 10.25 10.49
General maintenance workers 398 -9.3 8.78 8.93 8.11-9.55 9.68 8.86
Tool and die makers 155 6.3 13.43 12.87 12.78-13.43 12.63 12.42
Stationary engineers 40 1.3 12.09 12.05 11 .20-13.16 11.94 11.98
Truckdrivers 650 9.0 10.41 9.95 7.61-11 .48 9.55 9.83
Truckdrivers, medium truck 148 82.5 14.05 11.35 7.92-14.05 7.70 9.59
Shipping packers 197 13.7 8.00 8.45 7.31-8.75 7.29 8.40
Material-handling laborers 419 -17.6 8.80 9.43 8.00-10.93 10.68 10.00
Forklift operators 627 -5.7 9.03 9.51 7.75-11 .89 9.58 9.53
Guards 235 -48.7 4.81 6.73 3.55-10.35 9.37 7.84
Guards I 233 -47.3 4.77 6.74 3.55-10.35 9.05 7.57
Janitors, porters, and cleaners 703 - 3.90 5.54 3.35-7.76 - -
Middle
Range
6.47-8.31
6.00-7.60
5.53-7.96
6.63-8.04
7.45-8.71
7.25-7.34
8.73-11.27
7.09-12.46
5.23-7.97
4.47-7.04
5.30-8.76
-
-
4.08-5.89
4.00-4.63
5.13-6.54
-
-
6.01-7.78
5.40-7.68
5.30-7.33
6.10-9.30
6.68-9.73
5.43-6.82
7.00-9.65
8.94-11.43
-
6.57-14.52
9.18-12.15
-
6.97-10.00
10.87-12.28
9.33-12.86
8.97-11 .89
7.80-11.89
8.79-10.85
9.76-13.16
-
11.46-13.57
-
9.60-12.68
8.59-12.89
9.15-13.06
9.25-11.71
7.95-9.80
11.80-13.46
11.58-12.20
9.55-10.16
6.59-13.37
7.16-9.91
8.35-12.08
7.83-11.48
3.55-10.20
3.55-10.20
-
1Excludes premium pay for over time and for work on weekends, holidays, and late shifts. Incentive payments, such as those result ing from piecework, productio n bonuses, and commission systems, are included
in the wages reported; nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Cost-of-living allowances are considered as par t of the workers' regular pay. Hourly earnings reported for sa laried workers are derived from regular
sa laries divided by the corresponding standard hours of work. The wages of learners, apprentices, and handicapped workers are excluded. The mean is computed for each job by totaling the earnings of all workers
and dividing by the number of workers. The media n designates position - one-half of the workers receive the same as or more and one-half receive the same as or less than the rate shown. The middle range
is defined by two rates of pay; one-fourth of the workers earn the same as or less than the lower of these rates and one-fourth earn the same as or more than the higher rate.
Tfhe definition of the Fort Wayne M SA used in this study consisted of Adams, Allen, DeKalb, and Wells. The Labor Department has yet to adjust to th e current MSA definition which includes Whitley County
and excludes Adams and Wells counties.
lJob descriptions used in the survey are available upon request.
•" Area Wage Survey, Fort Wayne, IN, June 1985," U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Sta tisti cs, August 1985. A sample of 82 establishments employing 42,035 workers was selected to represent 2J7 establishments
employing 73,488 workers in the area.
5" Area Wage Survey, Fort Wayne, IN, June 1984," U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statisti cs, July 1984. A sample of 86 establ ishments employing 40,109 workers was selected to represent 344 establishments
employing 91 ,968 workers in the area.
7
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