Shop Talk

October is Manufacturing Month

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted have recognized October as Manufacturing Month.

We learned that not only is Ohio the third largest manufacturing state, but that also manufacturing provides more than 700,000 Ohio jobs, while employing more than 20% of rural Ohioans. Wow!

Labor and innovation are just part of the manufacturing story. This industry also requires PEOPLE.

Employees are needed for a variety of roles in areas such as engineering, information technology, finance, human resources, legal, purchasing, sales, distribution, operations, facilities, communications and marketing. Getting from R&D, raw materials, production, assembly and selling to shipping the end product to the consumer is a complex process.

IndustryWeek recently cited a new study, the 2019 L2L Manufacturing Index, that showed how Generation Z and millennials differ when it comes to their exposure to the manufacturing industry. A whopping one-third of Generation Z, adults ages 18-22, have had manufacturing suggested to them as a career option. When looking at millennials, which make up 13% of the general population of adults, only 18% have ever been exposed to manufacturing as a career path.

However, manufacturing jobs are on a national rise. It is one of the most important sectors of the U.S. economy in terms of productivity and employment. Manufacturing fuels the economy by creating jobs and advancing technology. It is the engine that drives the culture of innovation and converts research into new products.

Rust Belt Recruiting is both energized and proud to play even a small part in the big picture of US manufacturing.

Throughout the month of October, we’ll be sharing topics of interest as one small way to spread awareness and tip our hat to the great sector of America’s large and mighty workforce. You can expect to read about veterans in the industry, brief history lessons, coolest things made in manufacturing, and more.