IMT is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In commemoration of our first decade down, we look back at where industry was 10 years ago versus where it is today – by the numbers.

The following 10 indicators from 1999 and their corresponding 2009 (or most recent) data provide a glimpse of how manufacturing and its workers have changed in the last decade.

International Trade Deficit
1999: The export and import of goods and services in 1999 resulted in an international trade deficit of $25.5 billion for the United States.
2009: Based on the latest available data, the nation’s international trade deficit is $30.7 billion, with exports that increased and imports that decreased in August.

Consumer Prices
Then: The consumer price index — which measures the price level of consumer goods and services — in September 1999 increased 2.6 percent over the previous 12 months.
Now: The consumer price index decreased 1.3 percent over the last 12 months up to September (the latest data available).

Manufacturing Orders
Then: New orders for manufactured goods in September 1999 were valued at $361.1 billion.
Now: New orders for manufactured goods in September 2009 (latest available data) came to $356.1 billion.

Manufacturers’ Shipments
Then: Shipments of manufactured goods in September 1999 had a value of $358.9 billion.
Now: Shipments of manufactured goods in September 2009 (latest available data) were valued at $363.1 billion.

Worker Productivity
Then: Business productivity — as measured by output per hour of all persons — in the third quarter of 1999 rose 4.9 percent from the same quarter in 1998. Manufacturing productivity rose 4.9 percent from the same quarter in 1998.
Now: Business productivity in Q3 2009 rose 4.3 percent from the same quarter in 2008. Manufacturing productivity rose 3.1 percent from the same quarter last year.

Employment Costs
Then: The Employment Cost Index — which measures changes in wages, salaries and employer costs for employee benefits — for September 1999 increased 3.1 percent from September 1998.
Now: Compensation costs for civilian workers (non-farm private industry plus state and local government) rose 1.5 percent for the 12-month period ending September 2009.

Employee Tenure
Then: Based on biannual data, the median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 3.6 years in February 1998 and 3.5 years in February 2000.
Now: The median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.1 years in January 2008 (latest available data), little changed from the 4.0 years reported in January 2006.

International Comparisons: Hourly Compensation Costs
Then: Among 28 foreign economies, average hourly compensation costs (in U.S. dollars) for manufacturing production workers were 79 percent of the U.S. level in 1999.
Now: Among 31 foreign economies, average hourly compensation costs (in U.S. dollars) for manufacturing workers were 85 percent of the U.S. level in the latest available data (2007).

Fastest-Growing Occupations
Then: According to 1999 data, the following were projected to be the fastest-growing occupations for the period 1998-2008: 1) computer engineers, 2) computer support specialists, 3) systems analysts, 4) database administrators, 5) desktop publishing specialists and 6) paralegals and legal assistants.
Now: According to the latest projections (2007), the following are expected to be the fastest-growing occupations for the period 2006-2016: 1) network systems and data communications analysts, 2) personal and home-care aides, 3) home health aides, 4) computer software engineers, 5) veterinary technologists and technicians and 6) personal financial advisers.

Industries with Largest Wage Growth
Then: According to 1999 data, the industries projected to have the fastest wage-and-salary employment growth for the period 1998-2008 were projected as 1) computer and data processing services, 2) health services, 3) residential care, 4) management and public relations, 5) personnel supply services and 6) misc. equipment rental and leasing.
Now: According to the latest projections (2007), the industries with the largest projected wage-and-salary employment growth for the period 2006-2016 are: 1) management, scientific and technical consulting services, 2) employment services, 3) general medical and surgical hospitals, 4) elementary and secondary schools, 5) local government and 6) physicians’ offices.