Monday Manufacturing Round Up

As most operations get back to their first normal five-day work week, in the past three weeks, the economy and manufacturing are getting their report cards for the year that has just passed. Statistics are showing that the general economy is improving, along with an increase in manufacturing, and a slight increase in housing numbers. However, there are some that find holes in the manufacturing world ranging from potential issues in generational gaps, and an over valued view of what manufacturing means to our job market:

• Bloomberg reports on the increase in manufacturing at the end of last year. Construction saw some of its highest numbers since 2008, and an increase in consumer confidence has the automobile industry smiling.
• Planet Money on the other hand feels that the importance of manufacturing to create U.S. jobs may not be that important. Here they have a visual breakdown of the U.S. job market within the Service industry.
• As Congress comes back to work, Market Place Economy discusses the potential ramifications of unemployment benefits, and what might happen to the 1.3 million unemployed that lost their benefits in December.
• Manufacturing.net touches on the efforts being made by manufacturers across the country attempting to reach out to the youth of the U.S. and show what potential employment options there are in skilled manufacturing jobs.

Welcome to 2014. We hope that your Holiday Season, and New Year were fantastic, and we hope that your 2014 will be even better.