One of President Trump’s main policies is that he will return the United States to a manufacturing economy that can be more self-reliant and will not have to import goods from other countries. 80% of Americans would seem to agree with him, who believe that America would be better off if more people worked in manufacturing jobs. However, only 25% would prefer working a manufacturing job to their current one.
This leaves Trump with a dilemma. Unless he can convince the American public that working at a factory will provide them with higher wages and benefits than working in an office, the public seems disinterested in any kind of manual labor. There are not enough Americans who have the training and experience required, or even the desire to create high quality products that are necessary to develop a strong manufacturing based economy.
Another issue with manufacturing is the requirement for high skill jobs. The majority of manufacturing jobs are in high skill, non entry-level positions that require certifications to work for. There is a large barrier to entry for manufacturing jobs and the average worker will have to spend a lot of time training, time which could be spent getting a degree or a trade certification that could lead to a career with arguably more opportunities.
Jobs in the service industry are physically easier, lead to the possibility of a lucrative career path, and pay more than manufacturing. There are also other, higher paying jobs that require physical work such as the trades industry, and factories are mostly in poorer communities with less opportunities and services. Americans see many downsides to manufacturing jobs and not many upsides. America makes a much higher profit margin exporting technology and innovation rather than cars and mechanical parts. The US can leverage its trade relationships to get its goods, and exports services to the rest of the world. There is far more growth in these newer tech jobs, and a much easier life for those that pursue them.
If Trump actually believes in American manufacturing outside of it being reminiscent of the mid-20th century and popular nationalist policy, he must find a way to encourage Americans to work in a manufacturing job though financial or other means. If he is unable to develop a strong enough incentive for American workers, there will be no “golden age” for America.
The economic argument for moving America’s economy into manufacturing opportunities is debatable, but it's certain that at this point in time American workers are not especially interested in what the factory has to offer.