Century Foundation: Why Manufacturing Jobs Are Worth Saving
After decades of decline and political indifference, the U.S. manufacturing is getting fresh attention. “American Manufacturing Is Having a Moment,” declared CNN in a recent headline.
During his reelection campaign, President Obama set a goal of bringing back 1 million of the manufacturing jobs that had been lost after the recession, and supported bold new investments in the nation’s manufacturing capacity.2 President Trump made restoring manufacturing jobs a key part of a winning campaign among Rust Belt states that carried him to election as president.
Is this renewed focus on the manufacturing sector sound economic policy, or as pundits from across the political spectrum have complained, is it just a nostalgic bid for middle-class jobs that are gone for good? . . .