The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce has recently confirmed that Austal topped the list of local manufacturers for having the most employees. Austal’s U.S. facility now has 1,257 full-time employees, up from just under 900 in the beginning of the year. Austal’s recruiting staff was challenged in the beginning of the year with hiring 100 qualified applicants a month and are predicted to continue to do so through May and June. Since January, Austal has added 370 new employees to our staff. The majority of the new-hires are from the Mobile/Baldwin County communities, ranging in age from 18 to 64 years, including 35 veterans. They do this through various venues…