Trump’s job promises face challenge in auto sector

President Trump’s promises to revive the struggling American manufacturing industry faces new headwinds as the automotive sector, the largest driver of manufacturing jobs, announces thousands of new layoffs. 

The layoffs come as the auto industry faces declining growth after a post-recession rebound.

In less than a year, Ford has said it will cut as many as 1,400 jobs. General Motors has cut production at four U.S. assembly lines, costing 4,400 workers their jobs. Fiat Chrysler laid off another 1,300 workers at their assembly line in Detroit.

Mark Muro, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, estimates that auto jobs represented 60 to 80 percent of overall manufacturing job growth after the recession. That growth came as Americans made auto purchases they had delayed during the recession, though now those catch-up sales have plateaued.

“I think that when we talk about making American great again, a lot of that is tied up in how auto manufacturing is doing,” Muro said. “This next period, auto will not drive the overall manufacturing [sector], will not generate significant manufacturing employment.

http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/339055-trumps-job-promises-face-challenge-in-auto-sector