BlueGreen Alliance | Solidarity Central

bluegreen alliance logo

Menu

Solidarity Central

Then and Now: US Manufacturing Under The Trump and Biden-Harris Administrations

The U.S. middle class was built by the manufacturing sector. In decades past, a job in manufacturing meant high wages and job security. Unfortunately, offshoring, bad trade agreements, a massive effort by employers to break unions and thwart union organizing, and poor industrial policy led to a decline in U.S. manufacturing from which the nation is still recovering.

Numerous studies have found that the decline in U.S. manufacturing has exacerbated income inequality. Laid-off manufacturing workers have been forced to compete for lower-paying service sector jobs, putting downward pressure on middle-class wages across the economy. And, this decline has contributed to racial inequality, as workers of color have endured some of the biggest manufacturing job losses. Black manufacturing employment has fallen more than 30% since the late 1990s. If we grow clean manufacturing in an equitable way—like the manufacturing investments in the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by the Biden-Harris administration—it can help to reverse these trends as part of a strategy to build a more just economy.

Thankfully, due to shifts in the nation’s industrial policy, we have been seeing signs of life in the last few years. We are making things in the United States again. As of May 2024, there are nearly 13 million manufacturing workers in the United States. Additionally, wages in the manufacturing sector are relatively high, with average hourly earnings in the sector at $33.83 as of May 2024. In addition, the vast majority of manufacturing workers—91%—were eligible for health insurance. Investment in the manufacturing sector isn’t just vital to revive the middle class, it’s a critical component to the nation’s efforts to drive down pollution. The industrial sector represents a large and growing share of pollution with far less progress made than in many other sectors, specifically in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction. Industrial sector emissions now account for nearly one-third of GHG emissions in the United States and industry is on a path to becoming the highest emitting sector in the United States by the early 2030s. Under current policy, industrial emissions are projected to increase by 12% from current levels by 2035. Addressing this situation requires simultaneous investment in clean tech manufacturing and in innovations to drive down industrial emissions from manufacturing facilities. Yet, policy measures and investments to meaningfully reduce industrial emissions and produce more of the nuts and bolts of the clean economy were sparse, until recently.

Total Manufacturing Jobs (in Thousands) 2010-2024

More than 200,000 manufacturing jobs were lost during Trump’s single term. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic manufacturing job growth had all but plateaued under the Trump administration.

Since President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office in January 2021, more than 775,000 manufacturing jobs have been added to the economy. The growth is expected to continue, with the Biden-Harris Inflation Reduction Act estimated to create 336,000 manufacturing jobs a year until 2035.

In contrast, more than 200,000 manufacturing jobs were lost during former President Donald Trump’s single term.Even before the COVID-19 pandemic manufacturing job growth had all but plateaued under the Trump administration.

Taking a critical look at the industrial policies of the current Biden-Harris administration and the former Trump administration, we see a dramatic shift. On several points—including job creation, investment in manufacturing, investment in cleaning up industrial emissions, and domestic momentum in growing industries—we see that the Biden-Harris administration outperformed the Trump administration.

Read the full report here.

 

BLUEGREEN VOICES

The Inflation Reduction Act at One Year 

Last year, fueled by a desire to buck the status quo that has chipped away at workers’ health, safety, and rights for too long, the BlueGreen Alliance advocated tirelessly for a historic climate and jobs bill. We called for a bill based on the core tenet that the clean economy should work for working people, while protecting the environment and people’s health. It should also create good-paying, accessible jobs for all. Just one year after being signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act is helping to build a clean economy that does all that. If it is implemented correctly and the jobs created are good, safe, union jobs for all workers.

Five Reasons to Invest Federal Funding into Retrofits for Schools, Hospitals and other Public Buildings

The passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)—previously known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)—and the Inflation Reduction Act means more federal funding is available to upgrade and retrofit our public-serving institutions. In particular, Municipal, University, School, and Hospital (MUSH) buildings that serve as essential community assets represent a significant opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health outcomes, build climate resilience, and support and create good, local jobs all while addressing equity and environmental justice. 

The Platform that Boosted Washington State’s Workforce

The Washington BlueGreen Alliance took on its largest, most diverse advocacy effort yet for the 2023 Legislative Session. One of the principal themes in our agenda was the importance of developing the net-zero workforce that Washington will need to meet our state’s clean energy goals. The following bills—all of which passed the State Legislature this year—represent progress towards that goal in one of three ways.

Read More BGA Blogs

FEATURED VIDEO

PODCASTS SPOTLIGHTING BGA

Jason Walsh on “GSA Does That?”

Jason Walsh on the “Girl and the Gov” podcast.

Jason Walsh on America’s Workforce Union Podcast.

Reem Rayef talks EVs on EV Hub Live.

Thom Kay talks about fairness for workers and communities in the clean energy transition on America’s Workforce Union Podcast.

Jason Walsh on the “Rick Smith Show.”

BlueGreen Alliance’s Charlotte Brody on the “Living on Earth” podcast.

BlueGreen Alliance’s Charlie Martin talks Buy Clean policies on the Zero podcast.

LATEST REPORTS AND FACT SHEETS

Hard-Hit Communities Deserve Equitable Federal Investments  

Our newest map highlights the opportunity for strong equity and labor standards to equip hard-hit communities to translate the investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act into higher-paying jobs, cleaner air, improved health, and stronger local economies.

Plugging the Leaks 2.0: Protect Workers, Reduce Pollution, and Create Quality Jobs by Reducing Methane Waste in the U.S. Oil and Gas Industry

Reducing methane emissions in the United States is yet another example of how the nation’s environmental challenges can also be economic opportunities. Methane is a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is many times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) and one of the largest contributors to climate change. Reducing methane emissions can reap economic benefits for…

Making Clean Energy Tax Credits Deliver for the Public: A User Guide for Governments, Schools, and Nonprofits

The Inflation Reduction Act extended and strengthened tax credits for investment in and production of a range of clean energy technologies—including solar, geothermal, wind, heat pumps, clean hydrogen, electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure—and energy storage technology. Critically, tax-exempt entities, such as public schools, non-profit hospitals, and Tribal, local, and state governments can now claim the tax credits in the form of “direct pay.”

See our Reports and Fact Sheets