National Manufacturing Day: Oklahoma Ranks 9th in the Nation as Census Bureau Releases 200 Years of Data

Friday, Oct. 2 is National Manufacturing Day, and the U.S. Census Bureau is marking its 15th anniversary by releasing manufacturing statistics that go back more than 200 years. The historical numbers are striking. In 1810, the country had 14,191 distilleries. By 2022, that had fallen to 1,230, yet sales jumped from $15.6 million to $18.8 billion. Fewer operations, far more output, which is essentially the story of American manufacturing in one comparison.

Oklahoma has plenty of skin in this game. The state ranked ninth nationally for manufacturing in 2023, home to 3,255 manufacturers employing 156,386 workers. Nationwide, manufacturing was the fifth-largest employer that year, and the 2024 Annual Integrated Economic Survey reported $7 trillion in total manufacturing revenue. Around Lawton, that translates into machining, defense supply, logistics, and the skilled trades that keep Fort Sill and the surrounding economy running.

For students weighing what comes after graduation, or anyone considering a career change, the data makes a clear case that manufacturing is stable, skilled, and growing in efficiency. Local shops and plants are hiring, and the work increasingly runs on technology and precision rather than repetition.

Do you know someone in southwest Oklahoma working in manufacturing? Tell us what they do in the comments.