A resolution recently introduced in the state House of Representatives designates Friday as Manufacturing Day in Pennsylvania.
The resolution is in conjunction with national efforts that recognize manufacturing’s economic contributions and its ongoing potential to create the work force of tomorrow. The goal is to address a skills gap by encouraging employers and schools to host events showcasing modern manufacturing careers.
“More awareness is needed to attract students and young people to look at the manufacturing sector for opportunity, professional growth and family-sustaining jobs as more than 10,000 positions remained unfilled in the industry in Pennsylvania due to a lack of a trainable work force,” the resolution said.
In Pennsylvania, manufacturing employs more than 550,000 people, generates more than $100 billion annually in gross state product and accounts for 70 percent of all research and development expenditures. It also supports extensive distribution, supply, and retail networks statewide that sustain millions of additional jobs.
Manufacturing jobs offer benefits and have a wage that is 44 percent higher than nonmanufacturing sectors, averaging more than $61,000 annually, yet thousands of positions statewide remain unfilled. Misconceptions that manufacturing is dangerous, dirty and lacks career fulfillment discourage young people from exploring manufacturing job opportunities.