If you live in North America, you have probably come in contact with the harsh reality that blue collar manufacturing and industrial jobs are becoming more scarce every day. The fact is, manufacturing within the United States of America has been in decline for years. It has only been in the last two decades that this decline has become painfully obvious. The global market, that is, trade with foreign nations, is fueled by cheap labor and economic conditions favorable to industry growth. Many nations competing for their place in the American marketplace have modern economies that are literally in their infancy. China is the prime example. When a blue collar American worker loses their job to overseas competition, their first reaction is to blame China. The Chinese economy happens to be prime for growth, inexpensive manufacturing, and plenty of available labor. But the Chinese imports are really only the tip of the iceberg. American manufacturing and industrial factories are also in competition with Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, Taiwan, India, etc. The lower costs of labor needed for industrial manufacturing are only one factor in the equation of demise for the American labor force.

Environmental awareness in the United States actually works against American companies in regard to overall expense. Environmental awareness is the right thing to do, however it comes with a price. The cost of waste disposal, operational permits, certifications, audits, and screenings are not free. American rules and regulations regarding environmental responsibility are more stringent than many other parts of the world. In North America, emissions into the atmosphere are also heavily regulated at levels unlike many other nations. These policies are designed for responsible industrial manufacturing, but they result in more costly operation with a trickle-down effect through he supply chain. Read the rest of this entry »