As discussed in the Business Outlook Survey, the manufacturing outlook is somewhat less optimistic than other sectors in the local economy after the third quarter. However, actual job numbers remain strong. Firms report positive hiring activity and expect conditions to improve. Manufacturing is the heart of the Quad Cities economy. Here are some of the statistics on manufacturing in the region.
As of May 2022, there were 15,540 people working in production occupations in the Quad Cities metro area.
- This represents about 9% of the jobs in the region during the period surveyed (roughly one out of eleven jobs).
- This is about one-and-a-half times the national average.
- The top 25% of manufacturing workers in the region have annual earnings exceeding $55,850 per year.
Nationally, the share of GDP attributed to manufacturing is about 11% (about one out of every nine dollars of GDP). In the six-county Chamber service area, manufacturing's share is about 19% (nearly one out of every five dollars of GDP).
