Obama's 2012 State of the Union address contained many proposals for improving the economy. It's one thing to have big ideas, but it's another to be able to implement them. Although I'm skeptical about most of his overly-ambitious suggestions, I've noticed that one of Obama's plans has progressively been turning into a reality: bringing jobs back to the United States.
Obama cited the successful turnaround of the American auto industry and its factories returning from overseas as an example of domestication's positive effects on the economy. Upon hearing this, I agreed that the auto industry was a success, but I didn't think that other outsourcing companies would feel the need to follow suit. With tax benefits for sending work overseas, in addition to cheaper labor, why would anyone want to bring their company back to the U.S.?
However, I keep seeing more and more instances of companies moving jobs back to the country. The Rock Center published an article on Jan. 15 about companies moving back to the U.S. from China. According to the article, rising costs for fuel, shipping, and Chinese labor are causing the transition. The article cited examples of companies transitioning to insourcing, such as a North Carolina furniture manufacturer:
Earlier this year, Bruce Cochrane reopened factories in North Carolina for his new furniture business, Lincolnton Furniture. The factories were once used for Cochrane’s family’s furniture business until the company’s work was moved to China. After realizing the benefits of moving back into the U.S., Cochrane built a business back where it all started. He even rehired people who had previously worked for the family business.
Hearing about companies like Lincolnton Furniture makes me feel more optimistic about where the American economy is headed. I would love to see more jobs being brought back from overseas to provide work opportunities for American citizens, thus lowering the unemployment rate and helping restore the economy.
For more information about U.S. manufacturing returning from China, read the Rock Center article at the following link:
- Olivia Davis
No comments:
Post a Comment