Today more than 200 manufacturing companies participated in the first annual Manufacturing Day, a national event to highlight the importance of manufacturing to the U.S. economy and showcase the rewarding, highly skilled jobs available in manufacturing fields. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the Manufacturing Institute, along with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International and the U.S. Commerce Department's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, are co-producers of the event.

Manufacturers across the nation opened their doors to the public to host open houses, public tours, career workshops and other events. A recent study shows that 600,000 manufacturing jobs are unfilled in the United States due to a gap in the job requirements and the skills within the workforce. Manufacturing Day draws attention to the opportunities that a career in manufacturing can provide and promotes the pursuit of skills that will lead to a long-term career that offers security and growth for qualified candidates.

"Manufacturing is at the forefront of the national conversation, and Manufacturing Day showcases how important the sector is for economic growth and job creation," said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. "By opening up shopfloors around the country, we were able to show what manufacturing is all about-a high-skilled, technology-driven industry that offers secure, good-paying jobs."

"Access to talented individuals with a high-quality education and advanced skills is critical to manufacturers' capacity for innovation and business success," added Jennifer McNelly, president of the Manufacturing Institute. "Today's talent does not view manufacturing as a top career option. This perception issue, coupled with the skills gap, has contributed to a depleted supply of qualified talent for today's manufacturing workplaces. Manufacturing Day is an important step in helping to change manufacturing's image and engaging future talent by giving them firsthand experience with the real world of manufacturing."