Did you know October 5 is National Manufacturing Day? Sponsored by major corporations and professional associations around the United States, the day aims to “Inspire the next generation of manufacturers.” National Manufacturing Day has two goals: to promote students’ interest in manufacturing careers, and to help employers develop a pipeline of potential workers.
Event organizers encourage businesses to build interest in their industry by hosting tours and open houses that give students hands-on experience and help them explore manufacturing careers. There are more than 2,500 events scheduled throughout the country on October 5. Check out the interactive map to see locations of all associated events, and find one in your local area.
In support of this event, the National Association of Manufacturers put together the top 20 Facts about Manufacturing. Highlights include:
- Manufacturers contributed $2.33 trillion to the U.S. economy in the first quarter of 2018.
- For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.89 is added to the economy.That is the highest multiplier effect of any economic sector.
- The vast majority of U.S. manufacturing firms in the are quite small; in 2015, there were 251,774 firms in the manufacturing sector, and only 3,813 had more than 500 employees.
- There are currently 12.75 million manufacturing workers in the United States, accounting for 8.6 percent of the workforce.
- In 2017, the average manufacturing worker in the United States earned $84,832 annually, including pay and benefits. The average worker in all nonfarm industries earned $66,847.
- Manufacturers have one of the highest percentages (92%) of workers who are eligible for health benefits provided by their employer. That’s compared to 79% for all other sectors.
- Manufacturers have experienced tremendous growth over the past couple decades, making them more “lean” and helping them become more competitive globally.
- Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed, and 2 million are expected to go unfilled due to the skills gap.
- Over the past 25 years, U.S.-manufactured exports have quadrupled. In 2014, they reached an all-time high, for the fifth consecutive year, of $1.403 trillion, despite slowing global growth.
- Manufacturers in the United States perform more than three-quarters of all private-sector research and development in the nation, driving more innovation than any other sector.
Learn more:
- Research manufacturing and other industries on CareerOneStop, including seeing lists of the highest-paying industries, fastest-growing, and more.
- Learn about a wide variety of manufacturing careers from career profiles, under the “Production” link.
- Watch videos about manufacturing careers on CareerOneStop’s YouTube channel.
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