The first Friday in October is celebrated nationally as Manufacturing Day with the mission to inform students, parents, and the general public about modern manufacturing. In Illinois, the entire month of October is celebrated as Manufacturing Month and it is an opportunity for manufacturers and non-profit partners to build excitement about careers in manufacturing.
Manufacturing is an essential industry which thrives on innovation and technology. According to the Illinois Manufacturers Association, Illinois manufacturing supports $580 billion in economic output – the largest share of the Illinois economy. LaSalle County offers over 11,000 manufacturing jobs which generate over $3.8 billion in annual economic output.
The chemical manufacturing industry is essential to our economy, and it plays a vital role in the creation of innovative, ground-breaking products, processes, and technologies that make our life and work healthier, safer, and more sustainable. It’s an exciting time to consider a career in chemical manufacturing!
According to the American Chemistry Council, the chemical manufacturing industry generated $517 billion in 2021. That’s $31 billion more than the $486 billion generated in 2020. In perspective, our industry supports over 25% of the total U.S. GDP.
The chemical manufacturing industry provides 537,000 skilled, well-paying U.S. jobs. While navigating a global pandemic, between 2020 and 2021, 8,000 jobs were added. And for every one job in the chemical manufacturing industry, 6.8 jobs are generated elsewhere in the economy. The average annual pay for jobs in our industry is $92,000 — 20% higher than the average manufacturing pay.
This October, we are honoring Manufacturing Month by showing our appreciation for the employees at the heart of our business – those who manufacture the essential products for our customers. We’re also planning several outreach initiatives to connect with the next generation of manufacturers and STEM professionals, including the Illinois Valley Community College Discover Manufacturing Expo and the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois Career Conference.
Ready to explore a career in chemical manufacturing? Explore job opportunities with Carus.