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Manufacturing job loss for 2008: 793,000

Overall job loss hits 2.4 million as stimulus package gets criticism

By Plant Engineering Staff January 9, 2009

Manufacturing job loss hit 793,000 in 2008, the worst year since the Great Depression. Unemployment hit 7.2% in December , and many more people were being underemployed as the year-long recession deepened as the Obama Administration prepared to take over on Jan. 20.A vote on Obama’s proposed $1 trillion economic stiumulus package is expected shortly after the inauguration, and while some manufacturing leaders are calling for swift action, there has been criticism from within the Democratic Party over the stimulus plan.