October marks the official celebration of Manufacturing Month.
In Northeast Wisconsin, we celebrate it more often as manufacturing represents 23 percent of the region’s employment base. An often-heard saying is “we make stuff.”
As vibrant as the sector is, there are challenges ahead. Regionally, manufacturers are struggling to find the talent to meet production needs. As the baby boomers retire from the workforce, there simply aren’t enough replacements with the requisite skills to fill the jobs.
Nationally, optimism about the future has waned a bit as frustration regarding regulation and health care have collided with concerns over the softening global economy and currency manipulation. While many firms still project growth, those projections are less robust than six months ago.
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