President Donald Trump is pushing forward with tariff measures aimed at fixing trade imbalances and bringing manufacturing jobs back to U.S. shores. However, a new survey reveals a disconnect between Americans’ general support for more manufacturing jobs and their personal desire to work in factories.
While 80% of Americans believe the country would be better off with more manufacturing jobs, only 25% want to personally work in one. This disparity is evident across various demographics, including age, education, and income level.
Manufacturing workers themselves report lower job satisfaction compared to other professionals, citing issues with pay, health insurance, and flexibility. Economists argue that Trump’s policies may not be effective in achieving their desired outcome.
The U.S. has been losing manufacturing jobs since the 1980s, shifting towards a knowledge-based economy. The Trump administration claims reworking the world order will benefit the middle class left behind, but experts remain skeptical.
A recent survey found that Americans rely heavily on imports from other countries, particularly China, to meet demand. Goods cannot be produced without importing raw materials first. Moreover, research shows that tariffs did not bring back jobs in protected sectors during Trump’s first term in office.
As a result, many Americans are anxious about their finances, with 62% of middle-income individuals reporting financial stress last quarter and 46% expecting to be worse off financially in the next year.
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/04/15/americans-want-factory-jobs-reshored-dont-want-work-them