News
"Made in the USA" manufacturing is making a big comeback
June 20, 2014/Houston Chronicle/By Merrill Matthews
Here’s a news flash: The death of U.S. manufacturing has been greatly exaggerated. In fact, manufacturing has been growing stronger thanks to the U.S. energy boom and a steady supply of inexpensive natural gas.
And Texas seems to be leading the comeback.
According to a Pew Charitable Trusts report, skilled trades positions are the most difficult to fill by U.S. employers. As many as 600,000 manufacturing jobs were vacant in 2011 because employers couldn’t find the skilled workers to fill them, including machinists, distributors, technicians and industrial engineers.
Even more good news: The average salary for these manufacturing jobs is $77,500.
Forbes Magazine ranks Houston as the No. 1 city for manufacturing jobs, while San Antonio comes in at No. 4.
