The year ahead is set to be full of both big opportunities and complex challenges for manufacturers.

Demand is beginning to tick up after months of market stagnation, setting the industry up for a possible return to growth in 2025. Many manufacturers are pinning their hopes on the Trump administration to usher in more growth and investment while slashing regulatory burden. 

At the same time, landmark legislation that has spurred hundreds of billions of dollars in manufacturing investment could be under threat as President Trump talks of curtailing or repealing the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act.

Further complicating the year’s forecast are the tariffs Trump has threatened to levy against top trading partners like Canada, Mexico and China. Such tariffs could raise input prices for manufacturers and complicate supply chains. 

Finally, the industry’s labor crunch continues, with many companies still in search of talent with the high-tech skills they need. 

Read on for a full look at what the coming months could bring for the manufacturing industry.