On October 7, people across the country will celebrate Manufacturing Day and all the contributions manufacturers make to our communities and our local economies.

With 12 million people – or one in ten American workers – employed in manufacturing jobs across the country, odds are you or your family members know someone working in the industry.

Manufacturing has offered a pathway to a middle-class life for many families. With advances in technology, manufacturing continues to offer great opportunities for a whole new generation. As baby boomers continue to retire over the next decade, and companies re-shore their manufacturing operations, 3.5 million jobs will need to be filled. With the average manufacturing salary in Illinois over $72,000, it pays to consider manufacturing.

In Illinois, Governor Rauner has declared October Manufacturing Month to highlight the important role manufacturing plays in our history, the economy, and our future. Manufacturing is our state’s largest industry, with over 19,000 firms that employ 578,000 Illinoisans and produce 13 percent of our Gross State Product. While manufacturing in Illinois has experienced a decline over the last decade, Governor Rauner has made supporting Illinois manufacturing a priority, working to grow manufacturing by lowering costs for manufacturers and building a skilled, competitive workforce.

Governor Rauner and the all of us here at the Illinois Department of Commerce will be celebrating Manufacturing Month throughout October, and we encourage you and your community to join us. You can find an event near you on our website or follow us on twitter @IllinoisDCEO.