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There's a lot of talk about the resurgence of factory manufacturing work. Could it be your next new ... More dream job?
According to the White House, manufacturing jobs are roaring back under President Trump. The report says the rebound in manufacturing jobs was led by the automobile sector, which gained 8,900 new jobs in February, 2025—after losing 27,300 auto jobs in 2024. Trump insists that the new administration will supercharge the country’s domestic base. The truth is there’s a cultural nostalgia around factory jobs, known as “smokestack nostalgia"--a time when Americans worked in good solid jobs for generations. But is it a dream or delusion that factory jobs are making a resurgence?
What’s The Real Deal With Factory Jobs in 2025?
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says factory gigs are the “great jobs of the future” for Gen Z amid the administration’s efforts to fuel a multi-generational manufacturing boom. But not if Gen Zers have anything to do with it, according to Mike Goetsch, head of product at Soter. The problem is that Gen Z isn’t interested in factory work, he says because they believe they’re low-paying, dead-end jobs. The typical Gen Zer is looking for micro-shifts or flexible gig jobs that provide free time and work-life balance.
Factory Jobs Have Gotten A Bum Rap Among Gen Z
Factory jobs have gotten a bum rap among Gen Z, partly because they have misleading, dinosaur images of what’s involved in manufacturing jobs. A 2023 Soter report finds only 14% of Gen Z say they’d consider industrial work as a career path. A college degree used to be a ticket to stability, but not anymore. More business leaders are saying, "Ditch the 4-year degree." And tech workers are facing layoffs, slower wage growth and the quiet disappearance of roles as AI redefines the white-collar landscape.
Experts declare what was once a clear path is now a moving target, demanding constant reinvention. Some say it’s a temporary shakeup due to the pandemic, inflation or corporate efficiency efforts. But others envision a deeper shift underway, and see it as a make-it or break-it moment for employers in the manufacturing sector who need to step up.
In the Suter report, 38% of Gen Zers say they don’t know what industrial workers do, indicating a clear lack of education around industrial work. Goetsch says that’s why it’s not surprising that a measly 14% of Gen Zers would consider industrial work. Although 26% of Gen Z thinks industrial work is a good short-term job, they don’t see it as a long-term option. “It’s clear the Secretary of Commerce’s POV that factory jobs are great long-term career options is at odds with Gen Z’s perspective,” Goetsch asserts.
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