In 1950 thirty percent of Americans worked in manufacturing. But as outsourcing, stagnant wages, and more amenable working environments became more commonplace, manufacturing represented only fifteen percent of the jobs in the United States in 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). To highlight the shift away from jobs in manufacturing, the BLS also provided the following statistics:
Occupation Number of Employees choreographers 16,340 metal-casters 14,880 casino dealers 82,960 lathe operators 65,840 security guards 1,004,130 machinists 385,690
1,460 more choreographers than metal-casters? 17,120 more casino dealers than lathe operators? Things have changed dramatically, and when the presidential candidates wait outside of manufacturing plants to shake hands with the machinists, they would do far better visiting with the security guards in the lobby.
In 2007 the National Association of Manufacturers cited "training or retraining" employees as their number one concern. A 2005 study reported that ninety percent of manufacturers were suffering moderate to severe shortages of qualified workers. Less-skilled jobs will continue to move overseas. Small businesses make up the bulk of U.S. manufacturing jobs, and for these employers, the skill shortage is a crucial issue.
Hamill Manufacturing Company in Trafford, Pennsylvania reports that only half of their machines are running, and that is not due to a shortage of orders. It is a shortage of skilled workers. The president of the company said, "I’d hire 10 machinists right now if I could."
The move away from manufacturing jobs in the United States is multi-factorial. Outsourcing, dangerous or uncomfortable working conditions, and physical wear and tear are just three of a multitude of factors that may steer workers away from the factory and towards the office. What can we as a nation do to bring back the old "Made in the U.S.A." label?
