I’m not one to rely solely on statistics to tell the entire story. There are usually intangibles—the human element, seemingly unrelated activity—that fill in the blanks.

We’re seeing a seemingly endless stream of upbeat manufacturing stories lately, that either extol the latest bump in U.S. manufacturing performance or predict an “imminent” boon. But the bottom line in any economy is jobs. Well-paying, stable jobs that nurture and allow for growth and progressive development of talent. And I believe there are two elements that trump all the fluctuating Institute for Supply Management (ISM) and Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) surveys, and economic fits and starts in vertical sectors.

It’s all about the jobs, and the people who fill them. Everything else is hooey.

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