Sometimes statistics don't tell the whole story.
A five-minute conversation can tell you a lot more than a 1,000-page study.
In the fall of 2011, the AWB Institute staff toured Washington state talking to manufacturers. Employers we visited ranged from small family-owned companies to large multinational manufacturers. The discussions touched on everything from global competitiveness and the impact of local, state and federal regulations to how their business was fairing.
The result is the report that can be downloaded below.
For more information contact Mike Hudson at 360.943.1600 ext 1031.
2012 Challenges & Opportunities for Manufacturers in Washington state
Manufacturing in the state of Washington is at the same time, an international success story and an industry in transition. From commercial airplanes and heavy-lift cranes to hydraulic jacks, semiconductors and doors, Washington’s manufacturers are recognized around the globe as leading industry innovators.
Yet, at the same time, thousands of manufacturing jobs continue to go unfilled — even in one of the worst economies on record. A lack of skilled workers, able to meet the demands of large and small manufacturers statewide, continues to plague the industry. Workforce training must continue to be a priority, as should efforts to educate future employees as to the benefits of this powerful economic engine for the state’s economy.
As such, it is important that the business environment of the state provide an opportunity for the industry to prosper and remain a key contributor to the state’s economic climate.
Please take a moment to review the findings of our 2011 listening tour. They are integral to preserving and enhancing our state’s manufacturing industry.
