The Death of America’s Tool & Die Makers

In 1951, the U.S. government sent thousands of surveyors across the country to find one specific kind of worker: the tool and die maker. The trade that made mass production possible, that armed America through two world wars, and that once paid more than an engineering degree has since lost roughly 4 out of every 5 of its workers. From 120,000 in 2000 to just 27,000 today, this is the complete story of how America's most critical skilled trade was defeated. Sources consulted and referenced in our research: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook, Machinists and Tool and Die Makers: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/ma... U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Tool and Die Makers (51-4111): https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes51... U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Machinists (51-4041): https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes51... FRASER, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis — Digitized BLS Bulletins (including Bulletin 1120, Employment Outlook for Tool and Die Makers): https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Michigan Legislature — Public Act 266 of 2003 (Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zones): https://www.legislature.mi.gov/ National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) — Apprenticeship Programs: https://ntma.org/ NTMA Pittsburgh Chapter: https://pghntma.org/ National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS): https://www.nims-skills.org/ Autor, Dorn, and Hanson — The China Shock: https://chinashock.info/ Congress.gov — CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (H.R. 4346): https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-c... COPYRIGHT & FAIR USE NOTICE Some images, footage, and archival materials in this video are used for commentary, education, research, and historical documentation under Fair Use principles. We respect all copyright holders. If you own any material featured in this video and have concerns regarding its use or attribution, please contact us directly before filing a copyright claim or takedown request. We will be happy to review the matter and resolve it appropriately. ---- Copyright © 2026 The Gear Archive. All rights reserved.