Labor
Hyundai Steel project moves ahead despite local pushback
Hyundai Steel's planned $5.8 billion mill in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, is moving forward despite pushback from residents and advocacy groups. The Sierra Club, United Steelworkers, and others have raised concerns about the expedited air permit process and potential emissions. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality extended the public comment period by 13 days to Sept. 15, but the company may still break ground on Sept. 4. Legal challenges and questions about incentives and job guarantees persist.
Boeing, Deere and US Steel navigate labor union contract negotiations
Recently, contract negotiations between manufacturers such as Boeing, U.S. Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs, and Deere and unions have entered a critical phase. Boeing engineers and technicians rejected a four-year proposal and authorized a strike; U.S. Steel and Cleveland-Cliffs received a 30-day contract extension; Deere workers rejected a two-year extension proposal, and negotiations may continue into 2027.
Industry rejects Bill Gates’ call for robotics and AI tax
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called in a blog post for taxing AI and robots to address labor displacement, but industry bodies such as the International Federation of Robotics oppose this, arguing that automation creates jobs and that taxation would harm competitiveness.
SpaceX plans $100B spaceport in Louisiana
SpaceX announced it will invest $100 billion to build its largest spaceport on Pecan Island, Louisiana, for launching reusable Starship spacecraft. The facility will include five launch complexes, propellant production facilities, and employee housing, and is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs. The site was formerly owned by ExxonMobil, with construction planned to begin in 2027 and a target first flight in 2029.
Electric Boat, NEIT to establish submarine workforce training center in Rhode Island
Electric Boat, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, announced an investment of $25 million to partner with New England Institute of Technology to establish a submarine workforce training center in Warwick, Rhode Island. After expansion, the training space will increase from 30,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet, with an expected training of approximately 3,000 new workers within three years.
Illinois bill streamlines manufacturing career paths for high schoolers
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bipartisan bill that, starting in the 2028-2029 school year, will let high school students fulfill the state's two-year foreign language graduation requirement with career and technical education courses in fields such as advanced manufacturing, CNC machining, welding, robotics and automation. The legislation, SB3070, aims to address workforce shortages and preserve access to hands-on training programs that were being cut due to scheduling conflicts.
How to navigate background screening for the manufacturing workforce
制造业面临人才短缺与背景调查复杂化的双重挑战。AI技术提升了招聘欺诈的 sophistication，简历造假占已发现欺诈的41%，AI辅助面试冒充占近四分之一。专家建议定期审查筛选标准，平衡成本与合规，并采用分层筛选策略。
Ford plans to phase out China-built Lincoln models for the US
Ford Motor Co. will phase out China-built Lincoln models for the U.S. market, boosting domestic production from 2030. The decision affects the Nautilus SUV, currently assembled in China by Changan Ford, and aligns with Ford's goal to expand U.S. manufacturing and jobs.
Reality show Cast in Steel aims to attract next generation of metal casters
The metal casting competition 'Cast in Steel' has been turned into a YouTube reality show, funded by a multi-million-dollar Department of Defense contract, to inspire a new generation of workers. Six university teams compete for a $25,000 prize, with the finale airing Thursday. The show highlights the industry's workforce challenges and the importance of casting to defense and other sectors.
Stanley Black & Decker to invest $1B across US manufacturing, R&D
Stanley Black & Decker will invest $1 billion across U.S. manufacturing, R&D, and workforce training through 2028, addressing a widening skilled trades gap. The company also progresses on its $60 million training commitment, having deployed $27 million to date.