Investments in new process and product technologies, facilities, employee training, and product development have reduced the number of man-hours required to produce a ton of primary aluminum by 5-10% in the last 10 years. In the sheet, plate, and foil segment of the industry, the man-hours required to produce a ton of product has dropped by more than 10% over the same period. Today's production processes are technologically sophisticated, requiring more highly developed skills and workers with better training and education. To help meet this need, unskilled workers are being trained to develop new skills. The average hourly wage in the aluminum industry was $16.49 in 1997. [DOC 1997, AA 2000]