US President Barack Obama has vowed to boost manufacturing as part of his plans for jobs and the economy.
On Tuesday Mr Obama told the US Congress and the rest of the American people in his annual State of the Union address that he wants to create four more manufacturing innovation institutes this year and wants Congress to create up to 45 more.
The advanced manufacturing centres will build on the four already announced, including the hub he visited in Raleigh, North Carolina earlier this month.
“We also have the chance, right now, to beat other countries in the race for the next wave of high-tech manufacturing jobs. And my administration has launched two hubs for high-tech manufacturing, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Youngstown, Ohio, where we’ve connected businesses to research universities that can help America lead the world in advanced technologies,” Mr Obama said in his speech
“Tonight, I’m announcing we’ll launch six more this year. Bipartisan bills in both houses could double the number of these hubs and the jobs they create, so get those bills to my desk. Put more Americans back to work.”
Mr Obama said he wants immigration reform to be done this year to welcome people who want to create business and subsequently create jobs.
“The ideas I’ve outlined so far can speed up growth and create more jobs, but in this rapidly changing economy, we have to make sure that every American has the skills to fill those jobs,” the President said.
Aside from his plans for manufacturing, Obama will also raise the minimum wage for workers holding federal contract jobs to $10.10. He will also press Congress to make that rate the prevailing federal minimum wage nationally, according to some highlights in Reuters.
