Despite Setbacks, Skilled Trades Offer A Bright Future For Many Americans

America has a self-image problem when it comes to the kinds of jobs we do. Travel to nearly any corner of the nation and you'll likely encounter people who believe Americans don't make anything anymore.

That's not true, of course, but in daily life it's often difficult to prove that we still do. Aside from a few brands of automobiles, most finished that products Americans encounter -- clothes, shoes, appliances, toys, etc. -- have labels or tags showing they were made in places far flung from U.S. shores.