MARCH 2019
NAM Survey: Record Optimism Among Manufacturers Continues
Crumbling Infrastructure and Workforce Shortage Are Top Concerns for Industry
Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Manufacturers has released the results of the Manufacturers' Outlook Survey for the first quarter of 2019, which show nine consecutive quarters of record optimism, with an average of 91.8% of manufacturers positive about their own company’s outlook over that time frame, compared to an average of 68.6% across 2015 and 2016. The survey’s release coincided with Vice President Mike Pence’s address to the NAM’s 2019 Spring Board of Directors Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Manufacturers’ concerns about our nation’s crumbling infrastructure continue to rise, with more than 77% saying the state of infrastructure is not up to standards and threatens their competitiveness. The NAM continues to press Congress for a robust investment with the release last week of its infrastructure blueprint, "Building to Win."
The inability to attract and retain a quality workforce remained manufacturers’ top business concern (71.3%) in the first quarter. The workforce shortage has forced more than one in four manufacturers surveyed to turn down new business opportunities.