Opinion

Look to the Midwest and the South, indicates a new US Commerce Department’s Economics and Statistics report. What does this concentration mean for the economy?
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While US industrial manufacturers remain optimistic about revenue growth, they still have concerns about the domestic and global economies.
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Rather, look to at least seven primary catalysts, including transportation and energy costs, which have created a potentially vibrant environment for re-shoring and increased US production activity. This can mean a manufacturing resurgence, according to a new PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) report. Who could be the main beneficiaries? Industries such as chemicals and metals, as well as US jobseekers, the report indicates.
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Forget about the “baby boomer” generation, or even the Generations X, Y and Z. The Obama administration, and its “Obamanomics,” created a new generation – the “Generation Screwed.” So says author David Foran. His message is clear in the title of one of his most recent books: “Erroneous Drones: Saving the Economy from Legions of Self-Destructive Liberals.”
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Talent management leaders recently met at Deloitte University in Westlake, Texas to discuss relevance of human resources (HR) and if it still mattered. Discussion was lively, but attendees agreed on one thing: The system is broken. They debated about how to fix it.
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Further decline in US manufacturing could be permanent, but rebound could mean renaissance. That depends on education policy, worker training, tax code, the regulatory environment, international relationships (particularly with Mexico), according to a recently released study.
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A Deloitte/World Economic Forum report reveals that 10 million global manufacturing jobs are currently unfilled, further exacerbating the manufacturing skills gap problem plaguing the United States. Despite the high unemployment rate in many countries where companies are struggling to fill these jobs, the companies cannot attract, develop and retain the highest skilled talent.
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Marketing strategist Susan Orr advocates deployment of social media to increase business opportunity. Those left behind will lose a competitive advantage. But when it comes to implementation, many companies are in the dark. She offers advice on how to best take advantage of this new tool. Download and print this article; it will prove a valuable resource. Thomas is there to help with a strategy that might seem overwhelming. But it’s easy – really easy.
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KPMG’s Joanne Beatty and John R. Hickox reveal new pressures that global trends place upon industry. These involve environmental responsibility. They indicate that 10 “megaforces”—interconnected and unpredictable—will impact business in the next two decades. To paraphrase Aldous Huxley, there’s a new world coming, and businesses need to be brave.
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Economic CPR is needed—and right now—for a nation enduring heart palpitations. But manufacturing—the direct heart line to survival—remains resilient, says Scott Paul, executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing. Look to the auto industry – and watch out for China.
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