MFG Day Honors America’s Manufacturing Excellence and Workforce Growth

The first Friday in October is celebrated across the United States as Manufacturing Day. For this annual event, also known as MFG Day, companies and communities celebrate this vital industry and work to address common misconceptions about it.

On Oct. 4, this coordinated effort will work to address the shortage of skilled labor in the manufacturing industry, reach out to future generations, and work to ensure the continuing prosperity of the industry as a whole.

Absolute Machine Tools is a leading importer and distributor of CNC machines, which are used in a wide range of manufacturing operations. To show our support of MFG Day, we’d like to take this opportunity to share some important information about manufacturing in the U.S.

Did you know …

• Manufacturers contributed $2.33 trillion to the U.S. economy last year. This is up from $2.18 trillion in 2017.
• The manufacturing industry supports more than 12.5 million jobs in the United States, or about 8.5 percent of the workforce.
• For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, $1.81 is created for the U.S. economy. Additionally, for every 1 worker in the manufacturing industry, an another 4 employees are hired elsewhere.
• Manufacturing jobs pay 12 percent more than other industries. In 2017, manufacturing workers earned an average $84,832 a year, including pay and benefits. That’s 27 percent higher than the average worker, who earned just $66,847 a year.
• The industry offers diverse career opportunities, including engineers, machinists, researchers, computer programmers, sales and marketing professionals, electricians, welders, human resources, assemblers and more.

One of the biggest obstacles in manufacturing is a shortage of skilled workers. Those who have vocational training and industry certifications are highly sought after now, and that demand is going to continue to grow.

In the next decade, nearly 3.5 million new manufacturing jobs are expected, but more than 2 million of those will likely go unfilled because of a shortage of skilled workers. This is one of the reasons MFG Day is so important – it allows students, teachers, parents and current job seekers to learn more about this industry and what it has to offer workers now and in the future.

There is a common misconception that modern manufacturing operations are dark, dangerous factories that employ low-skilled workers. The reality is that manufacturing is a technologically advanced industry, with ample use of automation, 3-D printing and robots, and screen technology that require training and skill to operate.

Manufacturing Day aims to dispel this misconception and encourage students, parents, educators, media and local communities in general to learn more about what happens in modern manufacturing facilities and the possibilities they hold for prosperous careers.

Click here to find an MFG Day event happening in your area!

About Absolute

Absolute Machine Tools, Inc. has spent the past 30 years providing the machine tools needed to help machine shops and manufacturing facilities improve productivity in an increasingly competitive global economy. Contact us today to learn more about our CNC machines.