August 3, 2022- The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association launched the statewide “Manufacturing Matters” Tour to highlight economic impact of manufacturing in Illinois.
IMA announced the tour during a press conference at Richland Community College in the Scherer Industrial Technology Center.
A study on the total economic impact of manufacturing in the state of Illinois was conducted by independent economists at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.
“Of course, manufacturing has long been an economic driver of the state of Illinois,” Joseph Von Nessen, research economist at Darla Moore School of Business said. “That is certainly not news to anyone. However, what we find in this study, and what we wanted to look at, is why manufacturing is sometimes underreported. And we wanted to take a comprehensive assessment to really get at the full nature of manufacturing’s footprint on the state of Illinois.”
The results of that study will be presented and detailed at facilities, educational institutions, and economic development centers across Illinois, during this tour.
The study has found that manufacturing is the largest single contributor to state gdp (gross domestic product), generating $611 billion annually, thus supporting 1.7 million jobs. In addition, manufacturing directly employs over 600,00 workers, making up nearly 30 percent of all jobs in Illinois.
Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.
“Manufacturing is resilient,” Denzler said. “Manufacturing is diverse. Manufacturing is sustainable. Manufacturing is innovative. Manufacturing built our state and our nation. Manufacturing is exciting and innovative. When you think about it, artificial intelligence, 5G, robotics, smart factories, virtual realities. As I like to say, manufacturing makes the world a better place to live every single day. Illinois is the epicenter of manufacturing in the United States. Decatur and Macon County are the epicenter of manufacturing in Illinois. And again, manufacturing matters in Illinois.”
For more information on IMA, visit their website.
