Know What's Happening in Manufacturing

US Fixation on the Hard-Hat Economy and Making Manufacturing Great Again Makes Little Sense

The article argues that U.S. political focus on reviving the “hard‑hat” economy is misplaced. Manufacturing now comprises under 8% of employment, and recent tariff and subsidy policies have raised input costs without restoring jobs. Federal initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act and Chips and Science Act have made capital more expensive, while output remains at two‑decade‑old levels. The piece contends that the U.S. economy is naturally transitioning toward services, making protectionist manufacturing agendas economically unsound.