Americans want more factory jobs but don't want to work them: Poll

As President Trump pushes forward with his tariff policies

a major reason has been that he wants a rebirth of manufacturing jobs

and for American factories to flourish. However, polling shows Americans have mixed feelings

about bringing jobs back to America and actually doing the work. A survey from the Cato Institute shows

while 80% of respondents believe America would be better off with more manufacturing jobs

just 25% believe they would be better off if they personally worked in a factory

The numbers go on to show that only 2% currently work in a factory

Colin Grabo, the associate director of Cato's Center for Trade Policy Studies

says the age group 18 to 29 registered just 36% interest in manufacturing employment

He says there is a disconnect between how Americans generally think of manufacturing

and how they view it for themselves. He notes this is why the National Association of Manufacturers has called for increased immigration

Fortune Personal Finance reports there are currently about 500,000 available manufacturing jobs

But Cato finds not enough interest among Americans to fill them The same survey published in August of 2024 found Americans expressed more favorable opinions when it comes to globalization international trade free trade

and trade deals. In fact, 66 percent of respondents said international trade had a mostly positive

effect on the American economy. While President Trump has insisted American jobs and factories

will come roaring back, America has been losing automotive and steel industry jobs since the 1980s

as the United States has shifted to a more knowledge-based economy. Some economists and trade experts are not convinced a manufacturing comeback will work

saying it will take years to reopen factories and plants or build new ones

In addition, according to Goldman Sachs, America relies on imports from other countries

more so than other countries depend on the U.S. As a result, many products cannot be made in America

without relying on importing the raw materials from elsewhere. As the back and forth continues on a daily basis, the president of the National Association of Manufacturers believes the new Trump tariff levies threaten America's ability to outcompete other nations as the preeminent manufacturing superpower

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