Part 11/14:
Looking ahead, there are reasons for concern. The U.S. has approximately 12 million manufacturing workers—a number that has not recovered to pre-2008 levels—and faces the threat of further declines due to burgeoning Chinese competitiveness. Chinese firms have already overtaken Western automakers and are rapidly improving in advanced manufacturing sectors.
The risk is that, without significant policy shifts and infrastructure investments, the U.S. may experience further job losses, eroding both economic strength and national security. Infrastructure deficits—like inadequate high-speed rail, outdated supply chains, and inefficient logistics—compound the problem, hindering workforce mobility and factory efficiency.