Survey: U.S. Likes Manufacturing But Not Manufacturing As A Career

Industry Week reports that some 86% of respondents in recent survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, believe that America’s manufacturing base is “important” or “very important” to their standard of living. The poll of 1,000 Americans found that 79% say a strong manufacturing base should be a national priority.

Respondents also said if they could create 1,000 new jobs in their community with any new facility, they would put manufacturing at the top of the list — ahead of energy production facilities, technology development centers, retail centers, or financial institutions.

But while the public supports manufacturing, only 33% of respondents said they would encourage their child to pursue a career in manufacturing.

“Americans want more manufacturing jobs but they want those jobs for someone else,” said Emily Stover DeRocco, President, The Manufacturing Institute. DeRocco said the disconnect was due in part to continuing concerns that manufacturing jobs were being moved overseas and that manufacturing did not represent a stable career path.

Lack of interest in manufacturing careers, said DeRocco, “becomes a U.S. manufacturing competitiveness issue because we know that an educated and skilled 21st century workforce is the most important factor behind innovation and business success. As the industry faces major ‘boomer’ retirements, a shortage in the supply of new talent will directly impact a company’s ability to thrive and expand in the global economy.”

DeRocco warns that Americans, “are not confident that policymakers are taking the right approach today to support U.S. competitiveness.” She noted that 83% of survey respondents either “strongly agree” or “agree” that America needs a more strategic approach to develop its manufacturing base. And she pointed to survey results that more than two-thirds see current public policies having a neutral or negative impact relative to our ability to compete with other nations. ◆