Manufacturing Careers Outlook
Manufacturing jobs continue to decline as factories relocate to foreign countries with less labor and material costs. As a result, labor unions have lost some of their strength to negotiate for better contracts and wages for manufacturing workers. The other key reason for the continuing decrease in factory jobs is automation. To cut labor costs, manufacturers are replacing much of their labor force with robotics-based machinery. In many cases, these machines are more efficient and productive than human workers. In order to remain competitive, many companies are striving to become even more automated, which will in turn eliminate even more jobs. However, while many assembly line jobs will disappear, the demand for engineers, who program, install, and maintain the automated machinery, should be strong.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment in manufacturing will be best in pharmaceuticals. A growing and aging population and the frequent introduction of new drugs to the public will continue to bolster the pharmaceutical market. The need to replace retiring workers should also create many job openings in the area of aerospace and aeronautics manufacturing, although this segment of the industry will not experience job growth. Exports of both pharmaceuticals and aerospace equipment are also projected to remain strong. There should be slow growth in auto manufacturing and electronic equipment. Food processing is expected to decline because of increased automation. Apparel manufacturing is projected to decline more than any other industry—manufacturing or otherwise—through 2014, due primarily to increasing imports, automation, and cost-cutting measures implemented by apparel manufacturers due to increased competition and mergers.
Related Career Fields:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Chemistry
- Computer Hardware
- Computer Software
- Computer Science
- Electronics
- Engineering
- Machining and Machinery
- Metallurgy
- Packaging
- Pharmaceuticals
- Plastics
- Printing
- Rubber
- Shipping
- Stone, Concrete, Ceramics, and Glass
- Textiles
- Toys and Games
Related Career Cluster:
Related Careers:
- Aerospace Engineers
- Automotive Industry Workers
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Cost Estimators
- Fluid Power Technicians
- General Maintenance Mechanics
- Glass Manufacturing Workers
- Industrial Chemicals Workers
- Industrial Designers
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Industrial Radiographers
- Instrument Makers and Repairers
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Job and Die Setters
- Laser Technicians
- Layout Workers
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Mechanical Engineering Technicians
- Mechanical Engineers
- Millwrights
- Numerical Control Tool Programmers
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Plastics Products Manufacturing Workers
- Plastics Technicians
- Precision Machinists
- Precision Metalworkers
- Quality Control Engineers and Technicians
- Robotics Engineers and Technicians
- Stationary Engineers
- Tobacco Products Industry Workers
- Toy Industry Workers