The United States ranks as one of the top manufacturing locations in the world. According to Brookings Institution’s Global Manufacturing Scorecard released in July, the United Kingdom and Switzerland were the top ranked nations in overall manufacturing environment (both with 78 points out of 100). However, the United States was just behind with 77 points.

Ford recently announced plans to hire 2,200 salaried workers in 2013 to fill jobs in such key areas as product development, manufacturing and IT.