Don’t Count Out Manufacturing
Posted by Amy Clickner on November 11, 2011
If I said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times (oh my, I sound like my mother): The key to a strong regional economy is diversity and balance, and a strong manufacturing sector is a critical component. In order for us to have “stuff”, it needs to be made!
The Manufacturing Institute just released its 2011 Annual Index “Unwavering Commitment. The Public’s View of the Manufacturing Industry Today” and it’s an interesting read. This is the Institute’s third annual survey, which polled a sample of 1,000 Americans from across all fifty states.
The survey also found that Americans value manufacturing, see the sector as fragile and want stronger national policies and leadership to support it. Here are a few stats to back this up:
Oddly, the survey reveals that while we believe manufacturing is important for the economy, choosing it as a career path ranks fairly low. Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 rank it last as a path they would choose. Concerns with stability of jobs in the long term, off-shoring and policy issues perpetuate this sentiment among the nation’s employable youth.
Looking at our economy, manufacturing, forestry and mining continue to play a significant role in its strength and diversity. Preparing for the future of this sector will be an important effort in which all of us can play a role. The Manufacturing Institute sums it up by saying, “Nurturing and sustaining this delicate growth will require a mix of effective policy decisions, steady supplies of world class talent, and positive shifts in investment and growth strategies for manufacturing by both business leaders and policy makers.”