A major misconception about industrial jobs is that they all involve working with massive pieces of machinery and require large production spaces. This isn’t always the case, however; as the name suggests, light industrial jobs can involve a lot of the same characteristics of heavy industrial jobs, but on a much smaller scale—allowing for more benefits for those who prefer a more personal workspace.

If you’re interested in a manufacturing job on a smaller scale, consider your options in light industry. Here are just a few of the different types of light industrial jobs you might consider for your career.

Top Light Industrial Jobs Include:

1. Food Production

Food production is one of the largest employers of light industrial workers—and for a good reason. This area includes chocolate makers, bakers, producers of processed meats, cheeses, and fruits, and can involve several machinery supervision and technician jobs. Public consumption of these types of food products means that demand for food manufacturing is always high, making it one of the most secure areas to work in.

2. Consumer Electronics

This type of light industrial work has seen a massive increase in demand in recent years, as the need for small electronic products in both the business and household sectors grow every year. Consumer electronics manufacturing involves the production and assembly of small-scale technology—like printers, cell phones, computers, fire alarms, and many other entertainment and communication devices.

3. Home and Office Furnishings

Individuals who are interested in working with their hands thrive in furniture production, as manufacturing processes include the cutting, bending, and molding of materials like wood, metal, glass, and plastic. Furniture manufacturing can also involve the handling and maintenance of automated equipment. The creation of custom designs or molding— particularly for remodeling cabinets and other home design—is a more specialized option within these types of light industrial jobs.

4. Automotive Assembly

Automotive assembly is one of the more traditional employers of light industrial jobs, as the trade has been around for many decades. This type of job includes makers of automobile parts and the individual components of those parts. This type of work requires acute attention to detail as well as expert hand and eye coordination, making those individuals who take pride in precise work a perfect candidate for this industry.

5. Garment Manufacturing

The creation and manufacturing of clothes and shoes will never go out of style—making this type of light industrial job a perfect choice for those with the interest. A high level of accuracy and quality control is expected in this area, as the cutting, sewing, and assembly of different types of garments are held up to high standards. Those with the skill and passion can find the garment manufacturing industry to be quite lucrative, as the need for creativity in this area is always needed.

6. Printing

Books, magazines, brochures, catalogs, and newspapers—demand for the written word is still high, and the need for those who know how to operate and maintain the various printing technologies is high as well. Prepress technicians and workers—who prepare for printing jobs by ensuring that text and images are properly formatted and laid out for print—will find that their skills are needed to keep the presses going. This light industrial job is perfect for those job seekers who want a bit of creativity in their daily activities, but still like the manufacturing side of things.