The Manufacturing Workforce

After several years of experiencing a decline, the manufacturing industry is making a big comeback. On March 6, 2015, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership released "Making it in America," an infographic with data related to the manufacturing workforce. Whether you work on a production line or manage a group of manufacturing employees, it's important to review the data and see how the manufacturing industry is evolving.

The infographic shows that the manufacturing workforce is made up of 12 million people, but the industry actually supports 17.4 million jobs. Manufacturing companies need secretaries, project managers, administrative assistants and other employees who are not directly involved in production. The industry also attracts 57 percent of scientists and engineers. These experts are involved in research and development, product design, safety management and product testing.

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership indicates there are many new opportunities in high-paying manufacturing fields. For example, the robotics and 3-D printing fields are growing by leaps and bounds, creating new opportunities for workers with advanced technical skills. STEM fields — science, technology, mathematics and engineering — are also expected to grow significantly. The manufacturing workforce is expected to grow by 8.65 million jobs in 2018 due to growth in these high-tech industries.

In the past, many people hesitated to join the manufacturing workforce because of the perception that production workers and other manufacturing experts were not well-paid for their talents. The MEP infographic shows that the average salary for a member of the manufacturing workforce is $77,000 per year. This salary is much higher than the mean annual wage of American workers, which was $47,230 as of 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

People in the manufacturing workforce also tend to enjoy comprehensive benefits packages. In fact, the MEP infographic shows that 90 percent of manufacturing employees have medical benefits. Some employers also offer paid disability insurance, vision and dental coverage, life insurance and generous retirement contributions for their employees. The industry also does a good job creating jobs for older workers. Approximately 80 percent of manufacturing jobs in the United States are held by workers between the ages of 45 and 65. One drawback highlighted by the MEP infographic is the dearth of women in the manufacturing workforce. As of March 2015, only 27 percent of manufacturing workers are women.

The industry has a number of jobs available to workers at all education levels. With a high-school diploma and an apprenticeship or certification, it is possible to become an assembler, inspector, first-line supervisor or machinist. An associate degree opens up opportunities in semiconductor processing and equipment maintenance. Earning a bachelor's degree makes it possible to qualify for jobs in human resources, biochemistry, operations management, production management and marketing.

Whether you are just starting out or have several years of experience in manufacturing, there are many opportunities for growth. If you are looking for ways to advance your career in the manufacturing workforce, consider taking STEM classes or learning skills valued by employers in the growing 3-D manufacturing and robotics sectors.

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