Friday, October 3 marked the third anniversary of National Manufacturing Day. More than 1,500 events around the United States were held to celebrate. This national holiday was established to raise awareness of the decline in manufacturing and skilled laborer workforces, as well as to teach younger generations about what these jobs provide.
According to a recent study from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of baby boomers are set to retire within the next 15 years. As this generation retires, new workers will be necessary to fill their spots in manufacturing. However, younger generations do not seem to be taking advantage of these vacancies.
They are remiss in not doing so. Manufacturing is an expanding industry, with new technologies being developed constantly and new careers alongside them. In 2013, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the average manufacturing worker in the United States earned $77,506 annually, including pay and benefits, while the average worker across all industries earned $62,546. Furthermore, safety regulations in manufacturing are strongly enforced and are continuously improved over time.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that manufacturers contributed $2.08 trillion to the economy in 2013, and accounted for 12.5% of our GDP. The manufacturing sector in the US is growing, but the growth trend will not continue if young people do not take the place of retiring workers. National Manufacturing Day aims to change misconceptions that youth may hold about the manufacturing industry, and therefore keep this sector of the economy strong.
