'Made in America' Gets Manufacturing Legs With Employment Growth

One of the challenges we face as a nation is to bring back manufacturing in a way that puts the nation at the best possible position to take advantage of the emerging Digital Era. That era is a technology platform shift that will change the way in which we interact with each other, the services we use, the devices we use, and the fundamentals of business. Some countries will move into that Digital Era as advanced manufacturing societies that balance between hard products and virtual products and others will find a place on the supply chain.

One key component to advanced societies are the creative skill of workers. An industry hiring more workers at higher wages, when compared to alternative employment, is a win for Made in America, for worker prosperity, and for governments that will benefit from that tax revenue. The advanced society should find a path to perpetual sustainable development where economic opportunities renew. 

On a macro scale when we want to innovate and invent as a people new products/serviced in the U.S. through our creative capital (i.e. STEM), encourage strong international investment mechanisms in that growth (i.e. pack investing, clusters, tax policy), to produce the highest market value products (i.e. emerging products, technology, and services). 

Upward Manufacturing Trend

Some data indicate the U.S. manufacturing sector is on an upward trend with more hiring and investment in people (The goal should be to help people get into these higher technology manufacturing jobs because they produce significant economic value. Being at the center of a global supply chain means that advanced manufacturing and skilled labor come together to create the highest increase in product value.). Notice the stats below and pay attention to the table to get a sense of positive trends (There is lots of mixed data but an upward trend). I believe you can also get a sense of more of the supplies are coming from shorter supply chains (i.e. increasing local wealth.)

Here are some of the statistics I looked at: durable goods +22 and the type of products produced, fabricated metal product +6.3, wood products +2.2, Mining and logging 3 (because I'm from the U.P. you have to explore the category descriptions to see if it actually related to anything we produce up here. i.e. furniture, snowshoes, etc.), Machinery -1.7, Computer and electronic products .4, Electrical equipment and appliances 3, Transportation equipment(cars) 8.4, and Construction 19. (You can read a really good article by Bill Koenig Senior Editor SME Media HERE.)

You can gain some specific information  in the updated October 7th, 2022 BLS release Table B-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry sector and selected industry detail

Manufacturing as Opportunity: 

American labor is at its best when its creative improves products, produces a high value product or service, and has updated technology skills that allows for modern tools. High paying jobs should attract a diverse set of employees. It is one of those sectors that will spend a lot in training people and give reasonably high pay (in relative terms) for people starting out. 

If you were a person who want to find a stable job and use that as a base to go to college, start a business, or just pay bills this would be one sector in which you can do that. They often take people at one level and put them through training programs and certifications improving your economic value as an individual and the overall skills available for the organization.

You can gain some interesting information in Manufacturing Opens More Doors to Women

• Women make up 47% of the American workforce but only 30% worked in manufacturing.
• 1/4 management positions are held by women.
• Women earned on average 16% more than the national median annual income when compared to other employed women