The dilapidated condition of the manufacturing industry in the mid-west has seen resurgence in the form of U.S. natural gas and oil drilling. Recent economic success in shale has prompted international and domestic investment throughout the region. However, the precarious stability of the business may still prove impermanent. Opportunities for work are proving insufficient throughout communities, as are returns in company earnings likely to continue throughout the year.
See "U.S. shale is a boon to manufacturers but not their workers", James B. Kelleher, Reuters, June 13, 2013