Parents, let your kids go into manufacturing. It's vital to our nation's future.

Back to Top

A career in manufacturing today is an opportunity to work with state-of-the-art technology while addressing society’s most pressing challenges. At the same time, it offers a path to a stable, middle-class life for people with a high school degree.

In a recent Chicago Sun-Times op-ed piece, S&C Chief Operating Officer Jim Johnson Jr. talks about the need to change our perceptions of what a career in manufacturing looks like and the important role that U.S. manufacturing plays in building a more resilient and sustainable energy future for all of us.  Here are a few excerpts:

“There’s been a lot of talk about the future of U.S. manufacturing, but one thing is certain: its success is irrevocably tied to the country’s success. In a world challenged by a changing climate and surging demand for energy, our ability to innovate and manufacture new technology for our electric grid infrastructure is crucial.

We see the devastating weather events on the news all too frequently. To live in this new reality, we need more robust and resilient electrical infrastructure capable of withstanding and responding quickly to these increasingly severe and destructive storms. We need innovation to help us realize decarbonization goals and support the energy transition. And we need an electric grid capable of handling the surge in demand brought on by new energy-intensive technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

All of these demands require a thriving domestic manufacturing industry. While some say manufacturing is an industry of the past we should leave to other countries, the reality is that this sector is the key to a more resilient and sustainable energy future.”

Read the full op-ed from Jim Johnson Jr. in the Chicago Sun-Times here:

Parents, let your kids go into manufacturing. It's vital to our nation's future. - Chicago Sun-Times