The transition from an industrial economy to a postindustrial economy, as Daniel L. Doctoroff, the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding in New York City put it, comes at the expense of high-paying working class jobs. A survey conducted by the Parthenon Group for the City of New York indicates that 30% of workers without high school diplomas are employed in New York’s industrial sector. Without local manufacturing, many of these workers would be jobless, which would likely have a significant negative impact on the economic stability of working class families and communities.
New York City was once the capital of American manufacturing. In 1950, the city boasted nearly one million manufacturing jobs. By 2007 that number had dwindled to 100,000. Today, New York's surviving factories face stiff competition from foreign imports, and they have to fight for space against condo developments and businesses ranging from art galleries to clothing stores. What has losing this vital source of jobs meant for New York's economy? The following videos profile three longtime manufacturers facing the challenges of doing business in New York City.