Manufacturing: Room for Improvement 

North Carolina is no stranger to manufacturing. The Old North State is home to companies producing everything from poultry and tobacco products to software, pharmaceuticals, tires, and nuclear reactors. According to the NC Chamber, manufacturing accounts for nearly 17% of the state’s total output, and employs nearly 10% of the state’s workforce. That said, a recent article posted on the finance website Insider Monkey identified the 20 most industrial cities in the United States, and North Carolina is conspicuously absent from this list: 

20. Scranton, PA

19. Akron, OH

18. Austin, TX

17. Greenville, SC

16. Elkhart, IN

15. Columbus, OH

14. Grand Rapids, MI

13. Cincinnati, OH

12. Cleveland, OH

11. Milwaukee, WI

10. Phoenix, AZ

9. Philadelphia, PA

8. Minneapolis, MN

7. Atlanta, GA

6. Houston, TX

5. Detroit, MI

4. Dallas, TX

3. New York, NY

2. Chicago, IL

1. Los Angeles, CA 

There is clearly room for improvement. The Milken Institute has estimated that for every job created in manufacturing, 2.5 jobs are created in other sectors. Keeping manufacturing close to home can result in better brand image, faster and more efficient distribution, lower shipping costs, economic resilience, and sense of community. As shortened transportation and delivery distances reduces carbon emissions from transportation, in-state manufacturing can even help the environment!