Survey shows manufacturers' concerns over health care costs.
Press Release Summary:
According to quarterly survey by NAM and IndustryWeek, rising health care and insurance costs is manufacturers’ top concern followed closely by political uncertainty and unfavorable business climate. Manufacturers overwhelmingly support comprehensive immigration reform at 68.4%, which explains manufacturing’s advocacy efforts in the current debate in Washington. More than 75% of survey respondents said that foreign-born workers are an integral part of the production process.
Original Press Release:
Survey Shows Manufacturers' Concerns Grow Over Rising Health Care Costs
Strong Support Among Manufacturers for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Washington, D.C., – According to the quarterly survey by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and IndustryWeek released today, rising health care and insurance costs is manufacturers’ top concern followed closely by political uncertainty and the unfavorable business climate. Manufacturers overwhelmingly support comprehensive immigration reform at 68.4 percent, which explains manufacturing’s advocacy efforts in the current debate in Washington. More than three-fourths of survey respondents said that foreign-born workers are an integral part of the production process.
Key survey findings include the following:
74.0 percent of manufacturers identified rising health care and insurance costs as their top challenge.
72.1 percent identified uncertainties related to the political climate as their second most important challenge.
67.7 percent identified the unfavorable business climate due to taxes and regulation as a top concern.
“During the election last year, all eyes were on manufacturing, and now we have entered a pivotal year for manufacturers as they try to grow and create jobs to lead our economy,” said NAM Chief Economist Chad Moutray. “This quarter’s survey shows manufacturers need action to address their concerns over rising health care costs, the political climate and taxes and regulation. It is difficult for manufacturers to gain the certainty needed to hire when Washington continues to move from one crisis to the next with no real solutions to our long-term fiscal problems. For us to see strong manufacturing growth in 2013, we need pro-growth policies from Washington to address these challenges to get our entire economy running on all cylinders.”
The NAM/IndustryWeek Survey of Manufacturers was conducted among 366 manufacturers in a variety of industries and various sizes.
The NAM has released A Growth Agenda: Four Goals for a Manufacturing Resurgence in America—policies that will get the U.S. economy moving again and keep manufacturers in America competitive.
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.
CONTACT:
Jeff Ostermayer
(202) 637-3090
