For many years, factory closures and mass layoffs in U.S. manufacturing were all too common. Companies often said it wasn’t anything “personal” as they moved work overseas to lower costs and become part of a global supply chain.
In fact, it was very personal for those who lost their jobs, whether it was part of a large-scale layoff or one individual. Moreover, entire communities were devastated by some of the losses.
Recently, however, there have been some positive changes. The return of U.S. manufacturing from overseas, especially China, has been more like a trickle than a flood but has created opportunities not seen in decades.
Kearney, a management consulting firm in Chicago, weighed in with a 2023 survey of U.S. chief executive officers showing 96% were, at minimum, evaluating the potential to reshore operations.
This five-part series documents some of the changes, including work brought back to the U.S. or closer to it in Mexico, Honduras, and Puerto Rico. U.S. manufacturing is on the mend, even if it will never be what it was 40 years ago.
Mexico probably stands to gain more than the United States from work coming from China. Central America could benefit from increased apparel manufacturing, and Puerto Rico stands to benefit from a resurgence in pharmaceutical production.
China will likely remain the factory of the world, at least for the foreseeable future, but bringing more work to the Western Hemisphere will benefit countries and millions of people.
The Bringing It Home series was created with the support of the Pulitzer Center and the Richard C. Longworth Media Fellowship. The Center champions the power of stories to make complex issues relevant and inspire action. The Longworth Fellowship, which was awarded to reporter Rick Barrett and photojournalist Mark Hoffman, is devoted to bringing global issues to Midwestern readers. Neither the Pulitzer Center nor Longworth played a role in the reporting, editing, or presentation of the series.
