IEDC says more than 23,000 private-sector jobs promised by 200 companies in 2010

Driven by companies like Think North America, which opened an electric car manufacturing plant in Elkhart, Indiana garnered 23,017 commitments for new jobs and $4.38 billion in capital investment in 2010.

The new positions, some of which have already been created and others which are expect to open over the next five years, pay an average hourly wage of $23.02, above the state's current average of $18.40.

The top three sectors providing the most projected job growth were, respectively, automotive-related manufacturing, life sciences and energy.