So basically after 7 3/4 years of Bush......

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: techs

We have lost over half our manufacturing jobs.

Not that I don't think he is a shitbag (though not everything listed is solely attributed to him), but do you have a source for this? Sounds higher than I would have thought.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones

Originally posted by: techs

We have lost over half our manufacturing jobs.

Not that I don't think he is a shitbag (though not everything listed is solely attributed to him), but do you have a source for this? Sounds higher than I would have thought.

Manufacturing jobs in the US as a percentage of overall employment have declined since the 1950s. Back then the jobs represented more than 1/3 of the workforce. In the pure number of jobs I think it peaked in the late 1970s. The decline in jobs has swiftly accelerated since 2000 - not sure if it's as much as 50%.

Michigan has lost 35-40% of their manufacturing jobs over the last 8 years. The states hardest hit have been similar 'rust belt' states. North Carolina is in the top ten - and I think California is actually #1 in manufacturing job loss (but not on a percentage basis).

The issue around here (I'm in NC) is not the old textile and furniture manufacturing job loss (well, it is a major concern but not the biggie). It's the 'higher tech' manufacturing job loss in computers and electronic products, electric equipment, durable goods, etc. And those are the jobs that China wants ....

I don't have any real current information - you can probably get that from the US Dept of Labor - but I'd guess that manufacturing jobs only represent 10% (or maybe less) of total US employment today. Probably around 12-13 million total jobs.

I do know that over 50k manufacturing jobs were lost last month.