Over the past few years, manufacturers in a number of regions have suffered major setbacks, as demand has slowed and operations moved overseas. In some cases, governments have worked to improve the situation.
WTVA-TV reports that state and industry leaders gather at Mississippi State University to discuss a new reshoring initiative, that seeks to bring more firms to the state. One of the hardest-hit industries in the state has been furniture manufacturing, which, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cited by the source, lost more than 9,000 jobs between 2006 and 2010.
“I think what we can do is lower the costs of what manufacturers in the furniture industry have. Lower the regulatory costs and enhance their ability through workforce training of their employees so that they can produce world-class products in a global marketplace,” said Jay Moon, the CEO of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, according to the news station.
Further north, manufacturing is also experiencing a slowdown. According to he 2013 Connecticut Manufacturers Register, there were 1,522 jobs lost from May 2011 to May 2012 in the industry.