The Current State and Recent Trends of the U.S. Manufacturing Industry

Published

December 20, 2012

Author(s)

Douglas Thomas

Abstract

This report brings together multiple sources of aggregate manufacturing industry data and industry subsector data to develop a quantitative depiction of the U.S. manufacturing industry. It compares the U.S. manufacturing industry to its international counterparts in order to provide context to domestic activities. This approach promotes a better understanding of the U.S. manufacturing industry and provides an evidence-based depiction of both the industry and its subsectors. Domestic and international data on employment, compensation, output, value added, net income (profit), and research and development expenditures are explored and evaluated. A number of techniques are utilized to compare and analyze these data including input-output analysis. Many of the industry's subsectors are discussed individually with a focus on medium- and high- technology sectors.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 1142

Report Number

1142

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1142

Local Download

Keywords

Competitiveness, Industry, Manufacturing, Statistics, Technology

Citation

Thomas, D. (2012), The Current State and Recent Trends of the U.S. Manufacturing Industry, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1142, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=912933 (Accessed October 11, 2025)