Engineering and fabrication

What has happened to manufacturing jobs during the past 8 years?

Someone has said free trade has created more jobs than were outsourced. What type of jobs and where? Mccain is AGAINST re-negotiating free trade agreements and for new ones. I have never and will never say free trade is bad, but doesn't it matter if it's done in a SMART way, to actually benefit US?????? ***Burger "assembly" is not a manufacturing job. Car assembly IS a manufacturing job. I'm talking about auto plants...

Public Comments

1. They left America for cheap labor overseas.


2. How about the last 60 years?? Manufacturing jobs have been slowing leaving the US since after WWII.


3. Technology !


4. lol burger "assembly"

   Unfortunately a lot of this free trade crap started during the clinton years, he started FAFTA, WTO, World Bank, etc.

   Tyranus is correct as well, we've been exporting jobs for decades in reality.



5. DUH, DID YOU EVER HEAR OF TECHNOLOGY?

   You know, like this computer that you're on. Manufacturing jobs have been declining for 65 years. Get an education.



6. Wan't your factory job back? Well go to China work for $5 a day,

   Go to India $6 a day. Great benefits Overseas opportunities, just ask Mc Cain/Bush/Cheney.



7. It's that giant sucking sound of NAFTA. Perot was right!


8. If you are seeking an answer, please read the link below.

   http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/briefingpapers_bp149



9. Many of those have gone overseas, many to China.

   Outsourcing is cheaper for companies because of cheap foreign labor. I have an Asian car that has more American parts on it than my wifes GM model does. Crazy isn't it?

   We DO need to negotiate NAFTA and other agreements and encourage manufacturers to make quality vehicles and other durable goods here. McCain, as you said, does not want to do that. Clinton and Obama do.



10. The have been outsourced. Even the US passports have been outsourced to a European company


11. assembly is going to automation and the economy is tanking...

    throw in some overpaid workers and there you go



12. NAFTA Our jobs have been given to the foreigners, for cheap labor.

    It should be unconstitutional.



13. The same thing that happened to them in the previous 8 years. First to Mexico, then to China, next to Vietnam.

    It's called cheap labor. Either U.S. companies use it and stay in business, or companies of other countries (which by the way, do as much of it as the U.S.) use it and run the U.S. companies out of business.



14. Even if we got our industry jobs back. Obama wants to raise our income tax. might as well be burger assemblist. Bring home the same amount of money probably.


15. Listen, automotive assembly is going to go away. American car manufacturers are in terrible financial shape because they got themselves into unsustainable union contracts. Until UAW wises up, the best and most affordable cars will come from companies based in Europe, Japan and Korea.

    Trade policy doesn't help. I don't want to pay extra for a good, high mileage vehicle so that Ford can continue to produce gas guzzling trucks without punishment from the marketplace.



16. There are auto assembly plants in my state...they are both Japanese cars owned by Japanese...they came here to take advantage of the non-union labor...other companies have been moving overseas since the 1970s when union labor was cutting into their profits...the unions were a good idea that got out of control and the companies would not stand for it...


17. You need to go all the way back to the 70's with this question. By leaving those years out you have lost all credibility.


18. they have gone to places like India where they can be performed for much less money!


19. Bubba signing NAFTA was the death knell for decent paying American manufacturing jobs.

    Now we can all enjoy minimum wage "service" jobs-whoopee!

    Couple that with the highest corporate taxes in the free world and we are screwed.

    How about fair trade instead?



20. Free trade can onlt work with a REPUBLICAN / CONSERVATIVE CONGRESS/SENATE and PRESIDENCY

    BECAUSE:

    Liberals tax more and more the manufacturing companies THEY ARE THE ONES PUSHING OUT JOBS FROM THE U.S> to be outsourced in other countries and I don't blame them why put your money in a country that the government will screw you.