After a few very successful years for Miami Valley manufacturing companies, local executives remain optimistic for 2019 but say prospects further down the road are looking “murky.”
The 25 percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum has impacted Dayton area steel companies by raising raw material prices 60 percent from fall 2017 to summer 2018.
National defense spending has increased as well as the national market. However, many local manufacturers are working by contract instead of filling warehouses with products. But, local manufacturers are also still struggling to find skilled workers. Companies are trying to find new solutions to get customers what they want despite the lack of manpower. Dayton is becoming a very diversified manufacturing city and many companies are forced to adapt to these changes.
Area universities, however, are steering more and more students away from the four year college degree and into the technical jobs where manufacturers are experiencing the most shortages.
Growth is going to be slow for awhile compared to the recent past, but the outlook seems to be looking good for next year.
