Factory jobs are evolving

A few years ago, I was talking to an official in the last White House about how to best support American manufacturing, and he said to me, “You know, everyone says they want more manufacturing, but no one wants their kid to do it.”

We are working to change that.

Today, on National Manufacturing Day, I’m crisscrossing Ohio, holding roundtables at manufacturing centers across our state with workers, businesses, educators, community leaders, and students. We’re talking about all the ways we can support one of our state’s most important industries.

Too often, our companies can’t find workers with the right skills, while our students don’t realize all the opportunities available to them.

People hear the word “manufacturing,” and they think about dirty, dusty old jobs, and the outdated, offensive term “rust belt.” That slur demeans our workers and devalues our work. And it’s just plain inaccurate.

Today’s Ohio factories aren’t rusty – they’re innovative and high-tech, and will provide good-paying, high-skilled jobs of the future.

That’s why for five years now, my office has put on summer manufacturing camps for students across Ohio. The students visit actual engineering and manufacturing facilities to see where their STEM education can take them in the real world. And we hosted the first right here in Youngstown.

Middle class

That STEM education and Ohio manufacturing often combine for a ticket to the middle class. That’s what this industry does – it lifts families up with good wages, good benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. That’s one reason the manufacturing industry has the strongest multiplier effect of any industry – for every $1 we invest in manufacturing, we add an additional $1.48 to our economy.

And I’m working with folks on both sides of the aisle, industry partners, schools, and workers to make sure that Ohio manufacturing thrives for generations to come.

I wrote and passed into law the Revitalizing American Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act, which created a National Network of Manufacturing Innovation made up of advanced manufacturing hubs, the first of which is right here in Youngstown. These hubs bring together industry, colleges, federal agencies, and all levels of government to leverage resources and spur innovation.

Supporting manufacturing jobs also requires a trade policy that gives Ohio companies and workers a level playing field. American workers are the best in the world, and can compete with anyone – but they need fair rules.

We also need to make sure that when we invest in American infrastructure, we also invest in American manufacturing. It’s pretty simple: American tax dollars should go toward American-made products that support American jobs. I’ve worked with Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) on bipartisan legislation to apply Buy America rules to all taxpayer-funded infrastructure and public works projects, to ensure those projects are built with American iron and steel.

In an era where hard work doesn’t pay off like it used to for so many workers, investing in good-paying manufacturing jobs is more critical than ever.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, has represented Ohio in Congress since 2007. He lives in Cleveland.