Manufacturing association pushes to safeguard industry jobs

RP news wires
Tags: manufacturing

The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) on January 27 called on the administration and lawmakers alike to act to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and promote a competitive domestic motor vehicle parts supplier sector.  

"Motor vehicle parts manufacturers directly employ nearly 686,000 people across the country. This direct employment, in turn, contributes to 3.29 million jobs from coast to coast," said Bob McKenna, MEMA's president and CEO. "Because of this industry's size and scope, the nation will not see a healthy vehicle manufacturing sector nor a full national economic recovery until motor vehicle parts suppliers see consistent access to credit restored and pathways to technology development opened."

   

Top 15 States

Direct

Jobs

Indirect Jobs

Expenditure-Induced Jobs

TOTAL

JOBS

 

Michigan

111,224

138,765

185,567

435,557

 

Ohio

80,600

108,439

174,963

364,002

 

Indiana

66,721

66,048

120,487

253,255

 

Tennessee

44,172

35,053

70,786

150,011

 

Illinois

36,033

62,715

115,672

214,420

 

Kentucky

34,656

24,089

51,295

110,041

 

North Carolina

26,078

28,462

57,068

111,608

 

California

24,677

46,206

49,397

120,279

 

Texas

24,664

50,278

83,281

158,223

 

Alabama

21,654

20,241

40,967

82,861

 

New York

20,367

38,062

71,788

130,217

 

South Carolina

19,492

15,539

32,963

67,995

 

Missouri

17,828

18,880

38,675

75,384

 

Wisconsin

17,662

25,562

58,490

101,715

 

Georgia

16,165

26,318

58,180

100,663

 
   
         

McKenna added that lawmakers across the country should be very concerned about further job loss in the parts manufacturing sector. In 2009, parts manufacturers witnessed more than 50 reported bankruptcies and an estimated 200 liquidations in the industry. He also cited a Bureau of Labor Statistics report that warned that the sector could lose an additional 100,000 jobs over the next 10 years.

MEMA is calling upon Congress and the administration to:

"Manufacturing jobs are truly the foundation of this economy," McKenna stated. "Parts manufacturers provide valuable jobs that support workers and communities across the country. Our message to the Administration and Congress is clear: Work with us to create a manufacturing strategy and assure that there is a competitive domestic parts supply base that will help produce safer, more fuel efficient vehicles and contribute to a strong national economy."

About MEMA
Suppliers manufacture the parts and technology used in domestic production of new cars and trucks produced each year, and the aftermarket products necessary to repair and maintain more than 247 million vehicles on the road today. MEMA supports its members through its three affiliate associations, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), and Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA). MEMA represents more than 650 member companies with global motor vehicle parts sales exceeding $600 billion and 65 percent of North American automotive supplier sales. For more information on the motor vehicle parts supplier industry, visit www.mema.org.