Manufacturing employment is on the rise, adding 76,000 jobs in 2004. Manufacturing workers have been hit hard in recent years with 2.8 million jobs lost from 2000 to 2003. This decline has been blamed on everything from decreased business spending to foreign competition. However, it is expected that foreign trade will contribute to employment growth as a weakening dollar helps American exports and reduces the competitiveness of imports.
See "Factories Rev Up (at Last) in the U.S.", Eduardo Porter, The New York Times, January 23, 2005