Decline of American Manufacturing Is a Widely-Told Tale That Turns Out To Be Wrong

Plus, too, about those job losses, why is unemployment as a startlingly low 4.1 percent?

AP/Sean Rayford
The assembly line at the BMW Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, October 19, 2022. AP/Sean Rayford

If you believe the political rhetoric, you probably think America’s industrial base has been hollowed out, gutted or “shipped overseas.” Across the ideological spectrum, people say U.S. manufacturing is in decline. They argue mostly about who’s to blame and how many tariffs we need to fix the problem.

Have an account? Log In

To continue reading, please select:

Limited Access

Enter your email to read for FREE

Get 1 FREE article

Continue with
or
Unlimited Access

Join the Sun for a PENNY A DAY

$0.01/day for 60 days

Cancel anytime

100% ad free experience

Unlimited article and commenting access

Full annual dues ($120) billed after 60 days

By continuing you agree to our
Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Advertisement
The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use