Pennsylvania Manufacturing Week
On the heels of Bringing the World to Pennsylvania in September, DCED hosted its second annual Pennsylvania Manufacturing Week earlier this month from October 1st – October 7th. PA Manufacturing Week coincides with National Manufacturing Day on October 7th. It is a celebration of our state’s manufacturing industry – an industry that pumps $85 billion dollars into our state’s economy, accounting for 12% of our total GDP. PA Manufacturing Week is an opportunity to celebrate manufacturers and highlight their facilities and their products that are making a difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians, Americans and the world. Team Pennsylvania board member and investor B. Braun Medical, Inc., participated in the weeklong event by hosting a facility tour in Allentown.
Manufacturing is a booming industry – it is the second largest industry in Pennsylvania and PA boasts the 8th largest manufacturing industry in the United States; according to DCED, it accounts for almost 92% of PA’s total goods exported. Manufacturers employ close to half of PA’s private sector workforce and quality, productivity and innovation continue to be on the rise. In a blog post written by Governor Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry is described as a “unique blend of world-class R&D institutions, technology commercialization programs, technical and industrial resources, and our skilled workforce creates a competitive advantage for manufacturing businesses.”
Governor Wolf has more than 25 years of experience in manufacturing himself and is a devoted supporter of the industry. The Governor’s Action Team has created more than 2,500 manufacturing jobs and preserved more than 6,100 others since Governor Wolf took office. A recently established tax credit program is expected to be a powerful incentive for manufacturers looking to build their business in Pennsylvania.
PA Manufacturing Week is also an opportunity to address common misconceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show the true nature of the industry. Students and their parents were invited to tour facilities in their regions and were engaged in conversations about a viable career in manufacturing. As previously mentioned, manufacturers make up almost half of the private sector workforce and, on average, manufacturing employees in Pennsylvania earn over $63,700.
To look back on the events of the week and learn more about Pennsylvania’s manufacturing industry, go to: mfgweek.dced.pa.gov.