the decline of manufacturing jobs
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7/30/2019 The decline of manufacturing jobs
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Texas manufacturing employment
(Numbers are in thousands; not seasonally adjusted)
(Numbers are in thousands; seasonally adjusted)
Texas manufacturing jobs peaked in 1981, with more than 1.1
million. Since then, the state has lost one-quarter of its
manufacturing workforce. Just in the latest recession, Texas
lost 102,000 jobs (10.9 percent) and continued to lose
28,800 more through April 2010. In the last two years, Texashas regained 45,000 manufacturing jobs.
Dallas-Fort Worth manufacturing jobs
(Numbers are in thousands; not seasonally adjusted)
Manufacturing jobs in the area are at a 1976 level. Today,
such jobs make up less than 9 percent of all jobs in the
region. Since manufacturing employment peaked at 366,900
in fall 1998, the area has lost 111,300 jobs, or 30 percent. Jobs
in Dallas-Fort Worth have been slower to bounce back fromthe recession than those elsewhere.
The nations post-World War II slideManufacturing jobs saw their greatest boom during World War II, according to records kept since 1939. Jobs peaked in June
1979 at more than 19.5 million. Since then, the nation has lost 39 percent of its manufacturing workforce, or nearly 7.6 million
jobs. More than 2 million manufacturing jobs were lost during the latest recession, hitting a low point in January 2010. In
December, U.S. manufacturing jobs hit their highest level (11.99 million people) in 3.5 years.
10,000
11,000
12,000
13,000
14,000
15,000
16,000
17,000
18,000
19,000
20,000
1211100908070605040302010099989796959493929190898887868584838281807978777675
*Figures for November and December of 2012 are preliminary
90858075 1210050095 90858075 1210050095
Note: The government replaced its outdated industry classificationsystem effective as of 2002 for local data.
Note: The government replaced its outdated industry classificationsystem effective as of 1990 for state-level data.
Texas average hourly
production wage is buoyed by
the type of manufacturingprevalent: aerospace,
automobiles and parts,
chemical, high-tech and oil
field equipment. The state
ranked No. 16 for its average
hourly wage ($19.32) in
November, which was higher than
the national average of $18.85.
LOCAL ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT | PRODUCTION AND WAGES
By SHERYL JEANStaff Writer
By KYLE ALCOTTStaff Writer
U.S. manufacturing jobs have fallen to a level not seen since World War II (1941 to be exact). The industrydeclined dramatically in the last 30 years in Texas and across the U.S., because, among other reasons,companies sought lower-wage workers offshore, and automation reduced the number of employees needed.Manufacturing jobs have seen a small revival in recent years, as the U.S. economy improved, business costsrose in other countries, some work returned to U.S. soil, and demand grew for products made in the U.S.A.One thing is for sure: The manufacturing industry of the future wont look much like the past.
The bottom line
Cheryl Abbot, Dallas regional
economist, U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics
Roger Meiners, chairman of the
economics department, University of
Texas at Arlington
Sheryl Jean, staff writer,
The Dallas Morning News
The share of jobs in the
manufacturing sector will never return
to those of decades ago if for no
other reason than productivity gains
have made those levels unnecessary.
However, since the endof the recession,
weve seen growth
in the sector,
particularly in
Texas, and in a
variety of
industries.
Texas and many other parts of the
country have increased demand in
recent years for certain types of
skilled workers, such as welders and
machinists. Future manufacturing
prowess locally andnationally will be
built around skilled,
precision work and
artisanal work.
The long-term downward trend over
the last 30 years may have hit a
bottom. The U.S. is more competitive
on a wage basis because average
wages have come down, especially for
entry-level workers, andwages in China have
been increasing.
States like Texas,
which have
right-to-work laws,
are more
competitive.
Manufacturing jobs have slidsteadily as work has moved offshore
SOURCES: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Dallas Morning News research
Texas
$19.32
$20.51
$17.47
$15.57$18.25
$15.631. Colo.
$25.15
$22.34
$18.76 $19.23
$20.69
$18.26
$18.46
$16.99
$16.56
$18.72
$17.60
$24.46
$18.65
$17.17
$18.60$18.45
$17.61$19.57
$20.04
50.Ark.
$15.18 18.06
$16.58
$16.66
$20.29
$18.64
$20.76
$16.73
$19.72
$18.58$18.88
$18.72
$20.77
$17.25
$18.48
$18.92
16.23
$17.73$21.41
$18.75
$23.03
$16.12
$18.60
Less than $17
$17-$18
$18-19
$19-$20
$20-$21
More than $21
November average hourly wages
of production employees
November:
255.6*
November:
850*
*Preliminary*Preliminary
May 2009:
11,868
January
2010:
11,458
December
2007:
13,743
June 1979:
19,553
December:11,988*
June 2009:
11,725
Production wages
$19.90
$22.66