Manufacturing jobs are those that create new products directly from either raw materials or components. These jobs are found in a factory, plant, or mill. They can also exist in a home, as long as products, not services, are created.1
For example, bakeries, candy stores, and custom tailors are considered manufacturing because they create products out of components. On the other hand, book publishing, logging, and mining are not considered manufacturing because they don't change the good into a new product.
Construction is in its own category and is not considered manufacturing. New home builders are construction companies that build single-family homes.2 New home construction and the commercial real estate construction industry are significant components of gross domestic product.3
Statistics
There are 12.839 million Americans in manufacturing jobs as of March 2020, the National Association of Manufacturers reported from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.4 In 2018, they earned $87,185 a year each. This included pay and benefits. That's 21 percent more than the average worker, who earned $68,782 annually.5
U.S. manufacturing workers deserve this pay. They are the most productive in the world.6 That's due to increased use of computers and robotics.7 They also reduced the number of jobs by replacing workers.8
Yet, 89 percent of manufacturers are leaving jobs unfilled. They can't find qualified applicants, according to a 2018 Deloitte Institute report. The skills gap could leave 2.4 million vacant jobs between 2018 and 2028. That could cost the industry $2.5 trillion by 2028.
Manufacturers also face 2.69 million jobs to be vacated by retirees. Another 1.96 million are opening up due to growth in the industry. The Deloitte report found that manufacturers need to fill 4.6 million jobs between 2018 and 2028.9
Types of Manufacturing Jobs
The Census divides manufacturing industries into many sectors.10 Here's a summary:
Food, Beverage, and Tobacco
Textiles, Leather, and Apparel
Wood, Paper, and Printing
Petroleum, Coal, Chemicals, Plastics, and Rubber
Nonmetallic Mineral
Primary Metal, Fabricated Metal, and Machinery
Computer and Electronics
Electrical Equipment, Appliances, and Components
Transportation
Furniture
Miscellaneous Manufacturing
If you want details about any of the industries, go to the Manufacturing Index. It will tell you more about the sector, including trends and prices in the industry. You'll also find statistics about the workforce itself, including fatalities, injuries, and illnesses.
A second resource is the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It provides a guide to the types of jobs that are in these industries. Here's a quick list:
Assemblers and Fabricators
Bakers
Dental Laboratory Technicians
Food Processing Occupations
Food Processing Operators
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
Machinists and Tool and Die
Medical Appliance Technicians
Metal and Plastic Machine Workers
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
Painting and Coating Workers
Power Plant Operators
Printing
Quality Control
Semiconductor Processors
Sewers and Tailors
Slaughterers and Meat Packers
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Upholsterers
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Welders, Cutters, Solderers
Woodworkers11
The Bureau of Labor Statistics describes what these jobs are like, how much education or training is needed, and the salary level. It also will tell you what it's like to work in the occupation, how many there are, and whether it's a growing field. You can also find what particular skills are used, whether specific certification is required, and how to get the training needed.11 This guide can be found at Production Occupations.
Trends in Manufacturing Jobs
Manufacturing processes are changing, and so are the job skills that are needed. Manufacturers are always searching for more cost-effective ways of producing their goods. That's why, even though the number of jobs is projected to decline, the jobs that remain are likely to be higher paid. But they will require education and training to acquire the skills needed.
That's for two reasons. First, the demand for manufactured products is growing from emerging markets like India and China. McKinsey & Company estimated that this could almost triple to $30 trillion by 2025. These countries would demand 70 percent of global manufactured goods.12
How will this demand change manufacturing jobs? Companies will have to offer products specific to the needs of these very diverse markets. As a result, customer service jobs will become more important to manufacturers.
Second, manufacturers are adopting very sophisticated technology to both meet these specialized needs and to lower costs.
