Hopefully your mileage will be better. But I wouldn't count on it.
Here is the graphic referred to in the article that, for me, makes the case that U.S. manufacturing is quite healthy and growing (despite the hit we took in 2008.)
...the talk surrounding U.S. manufacturing is one of relentless decline: a loss of jobs, the shutting down of factories, increased competition from foreign countries, a global war in which the U.S. seems to be on the losing end.
And of course, it’s true. At some level, manufacturing has declined dramatically — as a direct employer of American workers...
The idea is that if there are more and more unemployed factory workers then the U.S. manufacturing sector is collapsing.
At the same time others point out that if America makes more stuff than ever then our manufacturing sector's great. The difference of opinion revolves around the question of why we have a manufacturing sector in the first place: some say the the reason we build factories is for making things and others say we build factories so that's where the unemployed can sit while we give them money.
tx fer the headsup!
Is this an attempt to put a positive spin on Obama’s legacy?
What US manufacturing?
U.S. Bureau of Labor and their statistics ?
Uh ha.
George Orwell, anyone?
Our other loyal government beanies say our unemployment rate is 5%
There is some truth to this article. You can automate factories and produce more (& better quality) with fewer people. However, I also thought they changed the definition of manufacturing at some point, to include food service workers.
Hopefully your mileage will be better. But I wouldn't count on it.
Here is the graphic referred to in the article that, for me, makes the case that U.S. manufacturing is quite healthy and growing (despite the hit we took in 2008.)
I reality manufacturing jobs are disappearing worldwide.
Actually, it’s because manufacturing is becoming increasingly automated, and thus, creates fewer jobs.
And the displaced workers generally don’t have the skills or training, and, often, the aptitude, for the more difficult, technology-intensive jobs that remain.
This is an increasingly common problem as things go on: we are literally creating work that only a small portion of the population can do.
The flip side of the problem, is the one Mike Rowe often addresses: the lack of Skilled Labor. The schools push kids towards College and away from “vo-tech” fields, which are often hurting for lack of qualified skilled labor. . . .
There is some truth in this article. The big ticket items are made, or at least assembled in the U.S., but the items most Americans use are not. Look around your own house. Buicks are soon to be made in China.
The global company I work for is actually building a huge manufacturing plant at our campus. It will be a plant staffed by robots.
Pro administration piece. Very suspicious. Seems like lots of this during the convention.
This is another weak attempt to try to convince people that US Manufacturing is alive and well. Just because output has grown over the past 30 years doesn’t mean anything, the question is, how does it compare with other data.
For instance, according to the chart in the article, since 1980, manufacturing output has grown about 95%. Sounds great right? The problem is, over that same period, consumption in this country has grown by about 250%.
This means all of that extra consumption is being supplied by stuff that’s made OUTSIDE the United States. There’s a big vacuum sound sucking our wealth away.
Excellent article.
I spent $2 million on new equipment last year and another $1 million this year. Doing so let me not replace six employees and more than doubled output for the products involved.
Why you ask? Keeps the company from having to deal with Ocare requirements and other things like OSHA.
Own company that sells to the industry. Most companies do not have enough confidence to buy new equipment. New equipment sales off 18%. Automotive ok. Other sectors flat. Mexico up big. Defense spending is primarily the big boondoggles (F35 etc) pay to play defense elites. Implementing the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Asexual or Ally is the priority under this military hating administration. If Crooked Hitlary is elected we have a plan in place to lay off everyone and close the business. Not going to work 7 days a week to support the takers and have to deal with the government regulations and BS.
Shipping and fuel use statistics show a year over year decline—how can more be produced and not require delivery?
So all the product shipped form China that used to be Made in the USA is a mirage? Who knew? The 55,000 factories closed since 2001 that is just a lie?
“In fact, in many significant ways, U.S. manufacturing is thriving.”
Not consumer goods, for sure.
Go into the big box stores and try to find something made in the United States. Good luck.
Not too long ago, I bought a steel tape, Stanley, and it has an American flag on it, signaling it was made in the United States. They all do that, put a flag on the product, if manufactured in the United States. Trouble is, you don’t see many flags.
I was looking for some tools at Lowes lately. I could not find any made in the United States (all American companies). I say that to warm the hearts of some posters here. They won’t be satisfied until everything is made overseas.
Good article and charts that explain things to those who care to see. Manufacturing in the US is mostly a B2B enterprise rather than a B2C enterprise and that’s why people will fall for the line about US Manufacturing falling.
US Competiveness bump for later.....
This is a specious argument. It is like the farmer who loses half his crop to insects but claims his crops still grew, what is left of them anyway. How much MORE would output be if the 55,000 factories had not been off shored since 2001?