National Manufacturing Day

At Borough Furnace in Syracuse, NY

Today, is National Manufacturing Day. With a skilled labor shortage and advancements in technology, there are lots of reasons why people should get acquainted with the manufacturing industry in the U.S. There are lots of events planned and ways in which you can get involved.

In the world of American manufacturing, it's often a mystery to people what actually goes in to making a product, what a worker's day is like, and how stuff is actually made. Furthermore, there is a general misconception that manufacturing is for low-skilled, low-paid workers. Well, today many manufacturing companies and other institutions are opening their doors to the public so that you learn more about this sector of American industry.

Workers at the Shinola watch factory in Detroit, MI

Did you know? 

• 600,000 manufacturing jobs are currently unfilled in the United States due to a gap between the job requirements and the skills of those who are applying for them.  
• The annual average salary of manufacturing workers is more than $77,000. 
• Manufacturers have the highest job tenure in the private sector. 
• 90 percent of manufacturing workers have medical benefits. 
• The highest paid new college graduates are chemical manufacturing engineers.
• For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.48 is added to the economy, the highest multiplier effect of any economic sector. 
• Taken alone, manufacturing in the United States would be the 10th largest economy in the world.

Made in NYC is hosting an event right here in New York. We have about 7,000 small manufacturers in New York City that employ an estimated 65,000 people. Wow. Today, this great organization will be highlighting these factories and the people that work there on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using hashtags #MadeInNYC, #HowItsMade, and #MfgStory. I can't wait to see all these today.

Do you work in a factory? Are you visiting an American company that's making cool things? Take pictures or video and upload to the National Manufacturing Day website.

To find out more, visit the National Manufacturing Day and the Made in NYC websites.

(Photos courtesy of Borough Furnace and Shinola.)