Every year, the U.S. recognizes the manufacturing industry on the first Friday of October, and it behooves all of us to celebrate the northern Santa Barbara County companies that are part of this great industry.

Our North County manufacturing companies include those involved in manufacturing for space, energy, construction, healthcare and many other domains, with a number of these companies being world leaders in their fields.

For example, Atlas Copco in turboexpanders, Clinician’s Choice (formerly Denmat) in dental equipment, Melfred Borzall in boring machinery, Hardy Diagnostics in medical diagnostic equipment, and others. Small custom design manufacturing firms like Space Information Laboratories and True Precision Machining are additional North County manufacturing assets.

These companies and other local firms are part of the U.S. manufacturing industry that employs 13 million workers, many in high skill, high tech and high paying jobs. According to the National Manufacturing Association (NAM), average annual manufacturing earnings are $102,629, compared to $86,598 for other industries. Manufacturing is a “field of dreams” for workers, seeking to fill an estimated 437,000 openings in July of 2025.

Manufacturing is the industry that creates the products that drive other industries as well as our everyday life, and the so-called “modern makers” who work in this industry are part of new advanced manufacturing technologies that are creating whole new careers. In addition to traditional manufacturing jobs such as welder, CNC operator, assembler and machinist, today’s manufacturing technicians and professionals are working in bioengineering, robotics, AI, process engineering, data analysis and automation.

For every one of U.S. manufacturing employees, another 4.8 workers are added to the economy. For every U.S. manufacturing dollar contributed to the economy, another $2.64 is added to in indirect and induced impact. This means that manufacturing’s “multiplier” effect is one of the largest among all industries.

Manufacturing in the U.S. is a $2.9 trillion industry, and provides 9.7% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, according to NAM. Seventy-four percent of U.S. manufacturing companies have less than 20 employees, and ninety-three percent of U.S. manufacturers have less than 100 employees.

Nevertheless, if a separate economy, the U.S. manufacturing industry would be the 8th largest economy in the world. All of us would do well to recommend manufacturing as a desirable career field with a wealth of opportunity for today’s young people.

EconAlliance is a nonprofit organization with a mission to build awareness, advocacy, support and appreciation for Northern Santa Barbara County industries and communities. Its vision is to serve as a key catalyst inspiring high-performance, globally competitive industries and thriving communities.