With the calendar turning to December and the countdown to 2024 almost upon us, I wanted to recap my articles from the past year and their key takeaways.

In the past 20 years, the global economy has suffered through many difficult events, such as pandemics, conflicts and natural disasters. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered one of the worst job crises since the Great Depression.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? Whatever the reason, new evidence suggests that people who work in manufacturing are more eager to get up and go than people in other professions.

Good news! U.S. manufacturers employed 12,922,000 people in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s 4 percent more than in October 2021 and 13 percent more than in April 2020, the manufacturing employment low point of the COVID recession. 

Women in Manufacturing is an organization making an impact. The mission-driven trade association, founded in 2010, hosts resourceful events in virtual learning, networking, and a signature event series called Moms in Manufacturing, the first event of its kind launched just last year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. manufacturers had 858,000 unfilled jobs in November 2021. Why is that, and what can manufacturers do about it?

WASHINGTON—The Manufacturing Institute and the Charles Koch Institute have formed a partnership that is focused on expanding second chance hiring opportunities in the manufacturing industry.