As a teen, I remember hearing a story, perhaps in some Dale Carnegie book, about a pair of youngsters who thought they could earn some extra spending money. They tallied up all of their chores and little tasks they had done around the house and outdoors, figured out how much time they spent on these, calculated the monetary value of their work, determined the minimum wage, and left a note for their mother before leaving for school with the bill for their labor.

October was Manufacturing Month, an opportune time to highlight this sector's critical role in driving economic growth and job creation—especially here in Alabama. Manufacturing is a cornerstone of our state's economy, contributing billions annually and providing high-quality jobs across automotive, aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. Yet, as the industry evolves, its future success depends heavily on the strength of its workforce.