Manufacturing survey posts highest rating in 20-year history

The Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has registered the highest optimism ratings ever recorded in the survey’s 20-year history and tax reform gets most of the credit, NAM announced in a recent press release.

According to the survey, 93.5% of manufacturers have a positive outlook, including 94.5% of small manufacturers.

NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said the trade association will launch an outreach campaign called “Keeping Our Promise” to allow its more than 11,000 members to share their stories of how tax reform has spurred optimism and growth in the sector.

“As revealed by our latest Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, manufacturers’ optimism continues to soar following tax reform, with small manufacturers more optimistic about the future than ever. Manufacturing workers will reap the benefits of the new tax code, with manufacturers’ predictions for employment growth and investment at the highest level in the survey’s 20-year history. On top of that, wages are projected to grow at the fastest rate in 17 years,” Timmons said.

Timmons said it was “stunning” there were still “doubters, deniers and detractors who want to undo this progress and take the rug out from under America’s manufacturing workers.”

“That’s why we will continue to tell our story — and stand with those who stood with manufacturing workers. Congress and the President delivered on their promises, and now manufacturers, through our ‘Keeping Our Promise’ campaign, will show how we are delivering on ours.”

Timmons called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed mostly on GOP votes with support from President Trump a tool “to create jobs, offer raises, expand facilities, and compete and win in the global economy.”

Ariel Corporation of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, will launch the series, which will be bolstered by targeted, digital advertising buys. Ariel “plans to boost employee pay and benefits in the wake of the new tax law,” Timmons said.