Made In The US - Manufacturing More Than Ever

[strickj]

This is a very reveling PBS documentary about manufacturing in America.

Their claim? There are more manufacturing jobs in America now then ever before.... it only looks different then it did decades ago.

And they do a great job of backing the claim up.

The first segment on manufacturing was filmed here in Chattanooga at VW.

http://video.pbs.org/video/2227791872

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I found the opening segment about import/exports funny. The US exports more paper then any other commodity - most of which comes right back to us in the form of instruction manuals in Chinese made electronics.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

The VW plant?

I wouldn't doubt it that there are more of those jobs, but I don't know. Job types shift according to technological

advancement and economic demands. Population centers change, old styles of manufacturing die out and are

eventually replaced with more modern types. Timing, education, market demands all play a role.

It's how all that mixes with society and in what numbers. People bitch about pay, wasting time with that, when they

would be better served working their way into a better job.

You have to assume the workplace is much more dynamic and there are very few prospects of having a job

until retirement like thirty years ago.

[Guest TankerHC]

WHat exactly are they comparing it to. 20 years ago 37% of non farm workers worked in manufacturing jobs. Today that number is 9%. ANd thats straight from the department of labor and the Census Beaureu. In the last 4 years the US has lost 1236 manufacturing jobs to overseas companies, every single day. Since 2003 the US has lost 33.1% of its manufacturing jobs as compared to the great depression when we lost 30.9%. SInce 2000 66,496 plants have closed or moved. An average of 17 plants have closed or moved overseas every single day since 2000.

Quote "When you understand the multiplier effect of manufacturing jobs, creating 2-3 supporting jobs, this loss of manufacturing jobs represents 11 to 17 million jobs. The report states, "In fact, in January 2012 there were more unemployed Americans (12.8 million) than there were Americans who worked in manufacturing (just under 12 million)."

These statistics all come from the Department of Labor. Ill believe Leftist PBS numbers when they can back them up with facts, not hyperbole.

And a final note. The day the SCOTUS decision came on Obamacare, we lost 4 plants immediately. They were already in the works and one was to start construction next month. They were going to manufacture medical equipment. 3 decided to build in Canada and one in China. Obamacare would have bankrupted the companies. Until Obamacare is gone, you will see no new medical manufacturing done in the United States. And you will see more plants close, adding to the already dismal number that are closing.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Good points, Tanker. Whatever jobs there are, there is still the net effect of several million less jobs for the last

several years. Unemployment is still through the roof and it isn't getting better.

[strickj]

Tanker; sounds good but all of those figures are kinda trifling without including the figures for new jobs.

6.8; Unemployment rates don't really mean anything.The unemployment rate in Chattanooga has remained steady over the past ten years or so.

National unemployment rate is 8.3%. Chattanooga is sitting just above the national average at 8.4.

Like every city, Chattanooga has seen some big hits in manufacturing over the years. But the city has also added thousands of jobs to replace the hundreds that have been lost. VW alone currently has a staff of 2,700 people (April figures) with exceptions of 3,500 employees by the end of the year.

That does not include the supply and support jobs from their distributors and part manufactures that have opened up in and around the city.

[Guest TankerHC]

That National Unemployment rate is bogus as Mickey Mouse. The fact is the true number is 16.3%. Its called the "U-6" rate. Only 3 states have U-6 rates below 20%. Nevada's is 22.1%, the highest in the country. In 2007 Neveda's U-6 rate was 7.6%. When the Administration comes up with those numbers they completely disregard the 2 million unemplyed who have dropped out of the work force due to being unable to find a job. They do not count those who have been unemployed longer than 12 months. Or those who are underemployed, those who have lost full time jobs and are working part time. There has been no movement, except UP since Obama took office in the regular unemployment rate. The true unemployment rate is over double what is reported. We gain non farm manufacturiing jobs for still, a net jobs loss, every month. Its just that the lamestream media doesnt report anything that makes Obama look bad.

[strickj]

That National Unemployment rate is bogus as Mickey Mouse. The fact is the true number is 16.3%. Its called the "U-6" rate. Only 3 states have U-6 rates below 20%. Nevada's is 22.1%, the highest in the country. In 2007 Neveda's U-6 rate was 7.6%. When the Administration comes up with those numbers they completely disregard the 2 million unemplyed who have dropped out of the work force due to being unable to find a job. They do not count those who have been unemployed longer than 12 months. Or those who are underemployed, those who have lost full time jobs and are working part time. There has been no movement, except UP since Obama took office in the regular unemployment rate. The true unemployment rate is over double what is reported. We gain non farm manufacturiing jobs for still, a net jobs loss, every month. Its just that the lamestream media doesnt report anything that makes Obama look bad.

Thanks.

Keep in mind that just because unemployment is up, that doesn't necessarily mean that manufacturing jobs are down. Manufacturing is just one sector the US has today.

At any rate, I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with ya, as I really do not know one way or the other. Just thought the docu was interesting and sounded very convincing.

You should watch it. PBS isn't the devil.

http://www.pbs.org/weta/carrier/

[Guest TankerHC]

Same here. I watched it, thought it was interesting. But the stats they put forward are bogus. Fact is, during the Reagan Administration the Shipyards down in Mississippi and Alabama were putting out 3-5 ships a YEAR. Thats how we went from a 300 to a 600 ship Navy in less that 6 years. Today it takes nearly 5 years to build a single ship. The Governments process from R&D to launching a ship has become nothing more than busy work for the Unions. And, half the ships that have gone out in the last 10 years, have shown shoddy work. Last year, before the USS New York was launched they found that a Union Hull Weld Inspector had not even done the inspections, just signed off (He's in Jail now), but thats just an example. We have lost the moajority of our manufacturing facilities, jobs and capability over the last 20 years. And you can no longer expect anything more than the very "less" than the Union employees can put out with whats left. And dont get me wrong, Im not toally blaming Obama, this didnt start under his administration, the major losses started under Bush, moved forward Under Clinton and just continue today.

[pcrc11]

From what I have read the high tech manufacturing jobs cant find enought people to fill them. If you are qualified there is good money to be made. Manufacturing jobs that are basic assembly line work requiring little skill for the most part have left this country and more than likely wont be coming back, why would they when you can get the work done for 1/4 of the price. Nobody complains when they go to Wal-mart and you can buy just about everything cheaper today than you could 20 years ago without even adjusting for inflation. This country will need to educate and train our children to a much higher standard especially in math, science and tech to fill the jobs that are out there. I have a boy going into the 11th grade this year and am pushing him hard to get all the tech training and hi tech skills he can. You wont be able to barely make it through high school anymore or even drop out and go find a decent factory job, making socks, pencils, flower pots, dishes or any of the basic items found on a store shelf, that can support a family like you could 50 years ago.