Select Indicator Data Set
State of the Middle Class

Manufacturing

Once a world leader in goods production, the U.S. employed over 40% of its workforce in high-paying manufacturing, construction, and mining industries at the end of World War II. In times of national crisis, we could depend on ourselves.

At the end of 2024, we employ under 14% of our workforce in these same jobs.

In 1945, the United States had
of its workforce in high paying industries
> 0 %
In 2024, the United States had
of its workforce in high paying industries
< 0 %

This drop in American jobs has occurred at the same time that the U.S. is being outproduced by its competitors in many of the most critical manufacturing sectors, such as automobile, steel, and aluminum production. In the global economy, production is an asset to a single nation, and we are moving the needle away from self-sufficiency, which has impacted those who live and work in the U.S.

Manufacturing, Construction and Mining Employment in the U.S.

YearMillions of Jobs% of Total Jobs
194516.340.2%
196019.135.2%
198024.226.7%
200024.618.6%
202020.014.1%
Jul 202521.613.5%

Manufacturing Employment in the U.S. (Not including construction or mining)

YearMillions of Jobs% of All Jobs
196015.027.9%
198018.620.5%
2000
17.113.0%
2020
12.28.6%
Jul 202512.78.0%

Total Vehicle Production by Country

YearUSAChinaJapanGermanySouth KoreaIndiaRussia
202410,562,18831,281,5928,997,4404,069,2224,127,2526,014,691982,665
20208,822,39925,225,2428,067,5573,742,4543,506,7743,394,4461,435,335
200012,799,8572,069,06910,140,7695.526,6153,114,998801,3601,205,581

Steel Production (Millions of tons)

YearU.S.China
202481.01,000.8
202072.71,054.4
2000102.2128.5
195087.80.616
We produced more steel in 1950 when our population was only 152 million compared to our current population of 334 million. 

Aluminum Production (Millions of tons)

YearU.S.China
20240.6743.00
20201.0137.08
20003.672.80
19500.540.002

Vehicle Production by Type of Vehicle & Country (2024)

CountryCarsLCVHCVBuses
USA1,432,6158,804,413325,1600*
China27,476,8862,029,3291,655,941119,436
Japan7,139,188629,124460,1306,239
Germany4,069,222281,07888,2405,382
South Korea3,849,326219,71649,0959,114
India4,991,413641,558319,71262,008
Russia753,754125,90886,86716,136
LCV – Light Commercial vehicles 
HCV – Heavy Commercial vehicles 
*NOTE: Bus production for the U.S. is considered as part of Light Commercial Vehicle production
Goods Sector
Percent Manufacturing Jobs in the U.S.