Oct. 31, 2012
Survey: U.S. Not Doing Enough for Manufacturing
The public feels American leadership is off-course in improving manufacturing competitiveness and that the national economy is weak and fragile, according to a recent survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, Washington, D.C.
The survey found Americans have a skeptical view of the nation’s overall economic health, with 59 percent indicating that the economy has “not improved or gotten better” in recent years. Specific to the manufacturing sector, only 16 percent of Americans feel it is likely to improve in the next 12 months. In contrast, 23 percent feel it will weaken.
“The perceived lack of competitiveness leadership across the board seems to be seeping beyond manufacturing, dragging down optimism about an economic turnaround,” says Jennifer McNelly, president of The Manufacturing Institute.
The survey—the fourth annual “Public Viewpoint on Manufacturing”—sampled a nationally representative group of 1,000 Americans in September, finding that 84 percent “strongly agree” or “agree” that the United States needs a more strategic approach to developing its manufacturing base. A vast majority, 82 percent, support further investment into America’s manufacturing industry.
“Despite the public’s overwhelming desire for American policymakers and business leaders to double down on manufacturing, it is crystal clear that they believe we are not seeing enough action,” says Craig Giffi, vice chairman and consumer and industrial products industry leader at Deloitte LLP.
Giffi points out that only about 35 percent of respondents believe federal and state leaders are helping create a competitive advantage for the United States versus other countries.