Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed Oct. 1-7 North Carolina Manufacturing Week. This proclaimed date range encompasses National Manufacturing Day which falls on Oct. 6 this year. With the eighth-largest manufacturing economy in the United States, and the largest manufacturing workforce in the southeast, manufacturing remains essential to the success of every sector of North Carolina’s economy.

“Our manufacturing legacy and workforce have consistently supported North Carolina’s reputation as the best state for business,” said Governor Cooper in a press release. “Manufacturing is North Carolina’s second largest industry with nearly 11,000 businesses producing critical medicines, aircraft engines, wind turbine components, and soon supersonic jets, electric vehicles, charging stations and batteries. We need to keep this momentum going by investing in education and training for our world class workforce.”

Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation highlighted some statistics and details regarding the manufacturing industry as a whole and in Cumberland County specifically. According to the Department of Defense, American manufacturers contribute more than $2.35 trillion into the United States economy. In Cumberland County, manufacturing provides more than 6,500 jobs, representing over $445 million in wages each year.

Career opportunities in the manufacturing sector include positions in robotics, production, engineering, operations, information technology, management and logistics. Professions such as these typically require particular skills and training. Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville State University, Methodist University and Cumberland County Schools all offer programs to develop and train skilled workers.

“With a $114 billion contribution to our GDP, manufacturing will always be a pillar of North Carolina’s economic prosperity,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders in a press release. “Coupled with a convenient location, the fastest port on the East Coast, and a diverse, world-class workforce of 472,000 North Carolinians, our state continues to welcome global manufacturers across all industries to call North Carolina home.”

For additional information about National Manufacturing Day and the role manufacturing plays in Cumberland County’s economy see this post from the FCEDC: https://fcedc.com/fcedc-celebrates-national-manufacturing-day-october-6/