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May 1990

The 1987-88 surge in exports and the rise in factory jobs

Christopher J. Singleton

Export-related industries accounted for almost half of the rebound in manufacturing employment after the decline of 1984-86. This article describes the spurt in factory job growth that occurred 5 years into the longest peacetime expansion in U.S. economic history. It details the rapid growth of exports and concentrates on their contribution to the improved manufacturing employment picture. Manufacturing's recent sluggishness is addressed in the last section.

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