Celebrating Manufacturing Day in Arkansas
October 05, 2023Each year on the first Friday in October, we celebrate Manufacturing Day – or MFG Day – recognizing the impact that manufacturing has on our economy. The Manufacturing Institute describes MFG Day as the “biggest annual opportunity to inspire the next generation, positively shift perceptions about our industry, and build the foundation for the manufacturing workforce of the future.”
Manufacturing has played a major role in Arkansas’ history and economic growth. In Arkansas, we manufacture products that are essential for living and we produce products that add to our quality of life. We produce a lot of food – for human consumption and for pets. Skilled Arkansans make rockets and missiles, guns and ammo, boats and railcars, construction equipment and lawnmowers. More products include medical equipment, steel, furniture, and many paper products. The Arkansas workforce rolls up their sleeves and paves the way for the world to be built, defended, fed, connected and explored.
When the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission was founded in 1955, the agency focused almost exclusively on recruiting manufacturing operations to our state. Since then, our focus has broadened to encompass more economic development activities – but we’re still working to ensure that Arkansas continues to have a vibrant manufacturing sector.
How is the manufacturing sector in Arkansas? In a word – strong.
In 2021, the total manufacturing output in Arkansas topped $21.85 billion, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). This output made up 14.75% of the Arkansas’ total gross state product. Arkansas is ranked no. 7 among all states for the highest manufacturing employment by percentage.
Workforce development is a key priority in Arkansas, and we are laying the groundwork for the next generation of the manufacturing workforce in our state. Educational institutions, economic development partners, and elected officials are working together to create and implement workforce development programs that will prepare incoming workers for the manufacturing industry.
For example, the Arkansas Steelmaking Bootcamp is an initiative at Arkansas Northeastern College that is aiming to train 500 workers each year to enter Arkansas’ growing steel industry. This 80-hour job skills program provides the education and training that workers need to gain an entry-level job – giving them a pathway to a high-earning career in the steel and manufacturing sectors.
Past, present and future – manufacturing is vital to Arkansas’ success. Manufacturing has been crucial to growing our state’s economy, and it continues to play a major role in producing goods that are needed worldwide. Manufacturing will also play an important role in the future – it may look different than it does today and there may be different tools, but we are preparing the next generation to meet the challenge.
That’s why we celebrate Manufacturing Day in Arkansas – to honor the impact that manufacturing companies and workers have and will continue to have on our state. We look forward to growing our manufacturing sector and helping these companies and workers achieve success.
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