Spence’s research on job growth over the 18 years from 1990 through 2008 paints an unsettling picture. The U.S. economy added a respectable 27 million jobs, but 98% were in the “nontradable” side of the economy. Nontradable refers to sectors generating goods and services that are consumed where they are produced, such as government, health care, construction, retail, and hospitality.
When it comes to profit and satisfaction, craft business is showing how American manufacturing can compete in the global economy.
While only about 9 percent of all U.S. jobs are in manufacturing, 35 percent of all engineers work in manufacturing tnr.com/blog/the-avenu…
— Bruce Katz (@bruce_katz) February 6, 2012
We have learned that without a foothold in manufacturing, the ability to innovate is significantly compromised,” says GE’s Idelchik. The problem with outsourcing production is not just that you eventually lose your engineering expertise but that “businesses become dependent on someone else’s innovation for next-generation products.
Texas is doing better on the manufacturing front than the nation as a whole. More than 836,000 Texans are employed in manufacturing, the second highest number in the U.S. According to our
latest monthly employment statistics, Texas has added 25,200 manufacturing jobs over the past twelve months. Texas also exports nearly $160 billion worth of manufactured goods a year. We lead all states in that regard with our nearest competitor, California, next at less than $85 billion annually.