Vermont Manufacturing Facts

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Manufacturing really matters in Vermont and
across the United States.

VMEC has identified the following resources and compiled the following FACTS about Vermont and U.S. manufacturing of likely interest to our local manufacturers, the broader business community, VT Government Leaders, Legislators, students, citizens and job and career seekers.  

These facts and resources all paint a very clear picture that underscores the vital importance of manufacturing to the Vermont and national economies.  The creation of ‘value’ through a thriving and growing manufacturing sector is a proven road to economic prosperity.

Vermont Manufacturing Data Dashboard

This dashboard provides a snapshot of how the state’s economy is performing in general, and in particular in the manufacturing sector.  The Dashboard provides independent and objective data on how Vermont’s manufacturing sector is performing in eight main areas, and helps leaders focus on a few key metrics most important in measuring the sector’s economic progress and talent needs. It covers recent trends and will be updated on a regular basis. It is designed to track state economic performance and to spark conversations about building a more competitive manufacturing sector.

Note: If a data window/ cell contains a “+” symbol, be sure to click on the “+” to access additional valuable information and data.  

Vermont Manufacturing Facts

(Sources: National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) 2019 State mfg data, Vermont Department of Labor (VT DOL) and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS))

1,200+ – Approximate Number of Vermont Manufacturers  (2017) (Based on NIST MEP definition of manufacturing, including industry NAICS Codes 423510, 48891, 541330, 541380, 541711, 541712, 561910, 811310)

$2.81 Billion – Total Output from Vermont Manufacturing  (2017)

9.23% – Gross State Product (GSP) Contribution from Vermont manufacturing (2017)

$1.77 Billion in Vermont Manufacturing Wages. This is 12% of all Vermont wages (2018).

  • $59,390 – The average annual Vermont salary in manufacturing, compared to Vermont’s average annual salary of  $47,639  (2018) 
  • +25% – Percent Vermont Manufacturing wages exceed the average annual Vermont salary
  • $145 Million in State income and Sales Taxes

Economic Multiplier:  Every $1 spent in manufacturing adds another $1.82 in economic activity – the highest of any other economic sector.  

Recent research suggests that manufacturing’s impacts on the U.S. economy are even larger if we consider the entire manufacturing value chain, plus manufacturing for other industries’ supply chains. That approach estimates that manufacturing could account for 33% of U.S. GDP and employment. Along those lines, it also estimated the total multiplier effect for manufacturing to be $3.60 for every $1 of value-added output. (Source: Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI))

Employment Multiplier:  Each manufacturing job supports an additional 1.6 jobs. Considering the manufacturing value chain, each 1.0 manufacturing employee generates about 4.0 jobs elsewhere.  

(Source: Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity & Innovation (MAPI) and NAM calculations using IMPLAN)

Nearly all of Vermont’s manufacturers are considered Small-and Medium-Size Enterprises (“SMEs” or” SMMs”) with less than 500 employees. By federal definition, a “large” manufacturer is considered an enterprise with >500 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees.

Distribution of Vermont Manufacturing by NAICS Codes (2016)
(Company Count by Primary NAICS Codes) 

                                                                                                                                (Source: NIST MEP NAICS Data)                                                               

Distribution of Vermont’s Manufacturers – Rural vs. Urban

About seventy-one percent (71%) of Vermont manufacturers are in Rural (RUCC code 4-9) counties and about twenty-nine percent (29%) in Urban counties, with Urban defined as counties with a Rural-Urban Continuum Code of 1 to 3.

The majority of Vermont’s manufacturers, about thirty-three percent (33%), are located in the northwest three county “Urban” area (Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle).

Other Resources for VT Manufacturing Data & Information

Facts about United States Manufacturing  (January 2018)

 

10 Key Facts:   (2018)  

  1. Manufacturers contributed $2.38 Trillion (nearly 5% of U.S. GDP) to the U.S. economy. 

In the most recent data, manufacturers contributed $2.38 Trillion to the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter of 2018. This figure has risen since the second quarter of 2009, when manufacturers contributed $1.67 Trillion. Over that same timeframe, value-added output from durable goods manufacturing grew from $0.87 Trillion to $1.33 Trillion, with nondurable goods output up from $0.81 Trillion to $1.06 Trillion. (Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis)

  1. The majority (75%) of manufacturing firms in the U.S. have less than 20 employees.  

The majority of manufacturing firms in the United States are quite small.  In 2016, there were 249,962 firms in the manufacturing sector, with all but 3,837 firms considered to be “small” (i.e., having fewer than 500 employees by federal definition). About one-third (33%) of these firms have fewer than 20 employees. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses)

  1. There are 82 Million manufacturing workers in the U.S. and accounts for 8.5% of the workforce. Vermont manufacturing workers account for 9.5% (about 28,800) of the VT workforce. 

Since the end of the Great Recession, as of 2018 manufacturers have hired an additional ~ 1.37 Million workers. There are about 8.05 million and 4.77 Million workers in durable and nondurable goods manufacturing, respectively. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics) 

  1. U. S. manufacturing workers on average earned $84,832 annually, including pay and benefits.  

Looking specifically at wages, according to the latest figures, the average manufacturing worker earned more than $27 per hour, not including benefits. (Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics)

  1. 92% of U.S. manufacturing employees were eligible for health insurance.  

Manufacturers have one of the highest percentages of workers who are eligible for health benefits provided by their employer. Indeed, 92% of manufacturing employees were eligible for health insurance benefits in 2018, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. This is significantly higher than the 79% average for all firms. 

  1. 4.6 Million jobs in U.S. manufacturing will likely need to be filled over the next 10 years. 2.4 Million jobs in U.S. manufacturing are expected to go unfilled due to the skills gap.  

Moreover, according to recent research, the lack of qualified talent could take a significant bite out of economic growth, potentially costing as much as $454 Billion from manufacturing GDP in 2028 alone. Between now and 2028, a persistent skills shortage could cost $2.5 Trillion in reduced output. (Source: Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute) 

  1. Over the past 28 years, U.S.-manufactured goods Exports have quadrupled (4X). 

 Despite a stronger dollar, slowing global growth and lingering trade uncertainties, U.S.-manufactured goods exports were up 4.7% and 5.6% in 2017 and 2018, respectively. (Source: U.S. Commerce Department) 

  1. Manufacturers Export nearly 50% of U.S. manufacturing output.
     
  1. Foreign Direct Investment in U.S. manufacturing exceeded $6 Trillion for the first time ever in 2017. 

Across the past decade, foreign direct investment has jumped from $569.3 Billion in 2006 to $1,607.2 Billion in 2017. (Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis) 

  1. Manufacturers perform about 66% of all private sector R&D. 

The manufacturing sector has long been a catalyst for U.S. strength in disruptive, breakthrough innovations. The resulting new and improved products and technologies have shaped existing industries and been instrumental in the formation of new markets.

Other Mfg Information, Data and Research Resources