Local Problems Facing Manufacturers. Results of the ERS Rural Manufacturing211 Survey

摘要

The economic health of many rural towns and regions depends on their ability to211u001emainain a competitive manufacturing sector. in a recent ERS survey, rural 211u001emanufacturers reported that, more than any other factor, the quality of local 211u001elabor hindered their competitiveness. Other frequently cited local problems 211u001eincluded State and local taxes, environmental regulations, the attractiveness of 211u001ethe area to managers and professionals, and the quality of local schools. The 211u001eextent of these problems varies by region more than along a rural-urban 211u001edimension. Labor quality problems were more likely to be reported by 211u001emanufacturers who paid below-average wages, hired less-educated workers, and used 211u001eadvanced technologies. Advanced-technology users in counties that specialized in 211u001emanufacturing or had 2-year colleges were less likely to report labor quality 211u001eproblems.