Shifting perceptions of US manufacturing

US manufacturing is at an inflection point: The sector is increasingly viewed as crucial to economic and pandemic recovery, yet outdated public perceptions could be impacting recruitment of vital new workers, according to study findings by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute based on two recent surveys of executives and consumers. The full report is available here. A persistent shortfall of workers and a skills mismatch for smart manufacturing could slow down economic growth and manufacturing competitiveness, per the study, which found that perceptions are starting to change, especially due to the manufacturing industry’s response to the pandemic, but there are areas that need attention.