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With 3.2 million U.S. manufacturing jobs lost, will someone use the ‘M’ word tonight?
California is hardest hit state, with more than 376,000 manufacturing jobs lost
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 3, 2007) – With 3.2 million manufacturing jobs lost across the U.S. since 2000 – more than 376,000 of those in California – AAM is urging Republican presidential candidates to address the serious issues facing American manufacturers and workers in tonight’s televised debate.
Last week, when the Democratic presidential candidates gathered for a debate in South Carolina, where 91,000 manufacturing workers have lost their jobs since 2000, the word “manufacturing” was not mentioned once during the 90-minute event. California, the site of tonight’s Republican debate, has lost more manufacturing jobs than any other state. The lost jobs are the result of many factors, including unfair international trade practices, health care and retirement costs, energy costs and the manipulation of currency rates.
“Every American has a stake in manufacturing. We depend on manufacturing for innovation, national security, jobs and enormous contributions to our economy,” said Scott N. Paul, executive director of AAM. “There are some very real challenges that threaten American manufacturing, and those challenges are chipping away at the foundation of the American economy and the livelihood of countless American families.”
- Manufacturing is the largest single contributor to the U.S. economy – $1.4 trillion (12 percent) annually.
- As a share of gross state product, manufacturing is the largest sector in 10 states (including California) and in the Midwest region as a whole. It is the second largest in nine states and third largest in 21 others.
- Manufacturing directly employs 14 million Americans and supports 8 million more jobs in other sectors.
- Every 100 manufacturing jobs create as many as 700 new jobs in other job sectors.
- Manufacturing is responsible for nearly two-thirds of the private sector research and development in the U.S., and nearly 80 percent of all new patents filed originate in the manufacturing sector.
“The reality is American manufacturers create the very type of economic development and jobs that we know are vital to our country’s success in the future,” Paul said. “We hope the candidates for president – Democratic and Republican – will articulate their positions on manufacturing and issues like international trade, health care and retirement security.”
Click here for a PDF of this release: 05.03.07 Talk About Manufacturing
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The Alliance for American Manufacturing is a unique non-partisan, non-profit partnership forged to strengthen manufacturing in the U.S. AAM brings together a select group of America’s leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers to promote creative policy solutions on priorities such as international trade, energy security, health care, retirement security, currency manipulation, and other issues of mutual concern. For more information: www.americanmanufacturing.org.
