Would it surprise you to know more than half a million people in Pennsylvania are employed by the manufacturing sector?

That’s right, manufacturing is providing jobs to more than 500,000 individuals and is responsible for contributing $71 billion to our state’s economy.

Although many people may think manufacturing in the state died out some time ago, they would be mistaken.

In fact, the industry is on the rise, strengthening our economy and providing individuals with quality jobs.

Here in the Lehigh Valley, we are blessed with many great manufacturing companies and employment opportunities.

According to the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board, manufacturing jobs are on the rise, with 30,783 of the Lehigh Valley’s roughly 283,000 workers employed by the manufacturing industry.

Not only is the industry providing jobs, but it also offers family-sustaining wages. The average annual compensation in manufacturing is $64,913, according to the governor’s Manufacturing Advisory Council.

With strong salaries and available jobs, there is a real incentive for students to consider training for these high-skill positions as an alternative to a four-year college degree.

Because of that, more two-year institutions are creating programs to help fill the training gap and some manufacturing companies are creating their own training programs for interested individuals.

It is exciting to think future generations will have more options for employment as this vital economic sector continues to grow.

The progress of the industry has secured Pennsylvania as the sixth largest manufacturing state in the country, outranking other historically industrial states such as Michigan, Indiana, New York and New Jersey.

In fact, Pennsylvania is now producing more products than at any other time in its history.

In order to help ensure the manufacturing sector continues to grow and contribute to the state, there is now a bipartisan Manufacturing Caucus in the state House of Representatives.

The purpose of the caucus is to study the industry and talk with those involved to see if any legislative action is warranted to help further the success of the industry.

The popularity of manufacturing in all areas of the state has led to approximately 100 members of the House joining the caucus, myself included.

I am excited to be among those members working to further strengthen the manufacturing industry in the commonwealth.

Caucus members paid a visit to three manufacturing businesses (IQE Inc., OraSure Technologies Inc. and Coca-Cola Bottling Company) in the Lehigh Valley during a tour in 2013.

From this tour and others across the state since that time, we have been gathering the information we need to understand what the industry requires in order to continue to grow and succeed.

I will continue to you keep you updated as legislative initiatives impacting the industry are brought before the General Assembly.