Manufacturing plays a critical role in the strength and stability of the U.S. economy. In fact, if U.S. manufacturing were its own country, it would rank as the eighth-largest economy in the world, just behind the United Kingdom and France and ahead of Italy, Canada, Brazil, and Russia.
Manufacturers contributed $2.90 trillion to the U.S. economy in Q2 2025 alone, and total manufacturing output for the year is estimated at nearly $12 trillion. That represents 9.4% of total U.S. economic output, underscoring just how essential the sector is to the nation’s overall prosperity.
Manufacturing by the Numbers
The economic impact of manufacturing goes far beyond production output:
In 2024, U.S. manufacturers exported $1.65 trillion in goods — more than two and a half times the amount exported in 2002.
Export levels in 2025 are estimated to be on pace with those strong results.
The manufacturing sector employs nearly 13 million workers (as of September 2025), marking a recovery to pre-pandemic employment levels.
Manufacturing also has one of the highest economic multipliers of any industry. For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, there is a $2.64 total impact on the broader U.S. economy. Additionally, each manufacturing job supports another 4.8 jobs across other sectors.
Small Manufacturers Power the Industry
While large manufacturers often dominate headlines, the backbone of U.S. manufacturing is made up of small and mid-sized businesses. Out of more than 250,000 manufacturing firms nationwide, all but about 4,000 employ fewer than 500 people.
Even more striking:
93.1% of manufacturers have fewer than 100 employees
75% have fewer than 20 employees
From job shops to niche manufacturers specializing in fabrication, metal forming, welding, and finishing, these businesses are truly the lifeblood of the industry.
Competitive Wages — and a Growing Workforce Challenge
Manufacturing also offers strong earning potential. In 2025, manufacturing workers earned an average of $90,601 annually, including benefits. Production and nonsupervisory workers earned an average of $29 per hour.
Despite competitive wages, the industry faces a significant workforce challenge:
In August 2025, there were 409,000 open manufacturing jobs
Over the next decade, 3.8 million new manufacturing jobs will be needed
As many as 1.9 million positions could go unfilled without increased workforce engagement
Up to 2.8 million openings are expected to result from retirements alone
Why This Matters — and Why FABTECH 2026 Is So Important
These statistics highlight both the strength of U.S. manufacturing and the challenges ahead. That’s why attending FABTECH 2026 is more important than ever.
At FABTECH, you’ll hear directly from manufacturers who are thriving, innovating, and adapting — as well as those navigating labor shortages, workforce transitions, and rapid technological change. Learn what’s working, what’s not, and how leaders across the industry are preparing for the future.
Join us in Las Vegas this October and experience FABTECH.