The manufacturing sector is at a crucial turning point, facing both big challenges and new opportunities. With the urgent need to tackle environmental crises, recent federal actions have made progress in building sustainable infrastructure and strengthening supply chains. At the same time, organized labor is making significant gains, even as workers’ rights face increasing legal threats. These changes highlight the pressing need for policies that protect and empower workers while also prioritizing fairness in economic, social, and environmental matters. However, public views of manufacturing often don’t align with the forward-thinking vision needed to drive these changes.

This brief looks into the mixed and sometimes conflicting public opinions about manufacturing in the United States. Based on thorough research, including interviews and national surveys, it shows that while many people see manufacturing as the backbone of the economy, there’s little agreement on where the industry should go next. Public perceptions are often influenced by outdated ideas that manufacturing jobs are dangerous and dirty, mostly for working-class men, and there’s a general lack of awareness about how deep-rooted inequalities affect the industry. By shedding light on these and other trends, the report aims to guide efforts to change public thinking toward a more collective, fair, and forward-looking view of manufacturing.

This brief is a companion to the full research report. To access the full report and all findings from this research, click here.