FREMONT- Gov. Jim Pillen and other state and local officials spotlighted the growing Nebraska manufacturing industry, whose job count has hit its highest point in more than 20 years. The stars of the event held at Structural Component Systems, a Fremont-based building supply manufacturer, were a dozen local high schoolers who are dual-enrolled in trades-focused college courses. The Fremont teens, who learn construction, welding, and other skills at their high school’s newly opened Career Technical Education Center, represent a growing number of talent pipelines helping to fuel manufacturing.

The industry is second only to agriculture in the state, said K.C. Belitz, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. He said it contributes $21.6 billion to Nebraska’s annual gross domestic product, a 57% increase from five years ago. About 109,000 workers are employed in the sector, according to the Nebraska Department of Labor.

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