If you are considering a manufacturing job in addition to other careers, there are many benefits of manufacturing jobs you should consider when making the very important decision of which career you will embark on.
One of the biggest benefits of manufacturing jobs is their stability. Unfortunately, there is a myth that manufacturing jobs are unstable or that you have to be in a union to have job stability in manufacturing. Actually, nothing can be further from the truth. Manufacturing jobs, even at non-union facilities, are actually very stable. According to the National Association of Manufacturers[1], world trade in manufacturing is growing rapidly and, in August of 2023, manufacturing employed the most workers since November 2008 (over 12,000,000 workers). Manufacturing is truly the backbone of America’s economy!
Another benefit to a manufacturing career is the strong pay received by manufacturing employees as compared to other careers. According to the same NAM article noted above, “Manufacturing employees earned $95,990 on average in 2021, including pay and benefits.” In a paper noted in a March article by the Economic Policy Institute[2], “Manufacturing workers earn 13.0 percent more in hourly compensation (wages and benefits) than comparable workers earn in the rest of the private sector.” This should be encouraging to those deciding on a career based on wage earning potential.
And, speaking of potential, the potential for career advancement in manufacturing jobs is another benefit to a career in the manufacturing sector. The barrier for entry to a manufacturing career is low, with many good paying jobs available to those with a high school diploma or GED. Once a person is employed at a manufacturing company, if they work hard and are a reliable employee, there are many opportunities for advancement including training to upskill employees, apprenticeship programs, and mentoring by more senior leaders. These opportunities for advancement and the knowledge that results can help an entry level operator or forklift driver advance to more senior levels in the organization, with more pay and greater benefits.
In addition, many manufacturers offer strong benefits packages. According to the NAM article, “91% of manufacturing employees were eligible for health insurance benefits in 2022”. This is compared to only 78% eligible for all workers. Other benefits commonly offered by manufacturers include 401K or Employee Stock Ownership plans, Health Savings Account (HAS) participation and educational tuition reimbursement.
Finally, there are LOTS of job opportunities in manufacturing. In July of 2023, there were 550,000 manufacturing job openings and by 2030, 4 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed, according to NAM. Now is the time to explore manufacturing as a career!
In short, manufacturing can provide job stability, solid pay, extraordinary benefits, opportunities for advancement and a wealth of job opportunities. Could there be a better argument for a manufacturing career?
[1] https://www.nam.org/facts-about-manufacturing/
[2] https://www.epi.org/publication/manufacturing-still-provides-a-pay-advantage-but-outsourcing-is-eroding-it/#:~:text=Manufacturing%20workers%20earn%2013.0%20percent,when%20it%20was%2016.9%20percent
