Xometry Small Manufacturing Index // Q3 2018
Over 75% of all manufacturing firms in the United States have fewer than 20 employees. The Xometry Small Manufacturing Index (SMI) highlights the outlook of these 190,000+ small businesses on a regular basis.

Small manufacturers are hiring more...

32% of small manufacturers surveyed indicated that they have hired more employees since this time last year, holding steady from last quarter.
Donut chart illustrating overall hiring statistics: 32% hired more, 58% maintained same, and 10% decreased number

...and plan to continue doing so

44% of small manufacturers surveyed expect to hire more employees in the coming year, up 10% from last quarter.
Pictographic bar chart using illustrations of factories to represent the above 44% statistic

Xometry Partners predict even more hires

49% of Xometry Manufacturing Partners surveyed expect an increase in hiring versus 40% of external respondents.
Pictorial column chart comparing external respondents to Xometry Partners: 40% of external respondents vs 49% of Xometry Partners will hire more, 50% of both external and Xometry Partners will maintain same, and 10% of external respondents vs 1% of Xometry Partners will decrease the number of employees

Business confidence is up overall...

31% of small manufacturers surveyed said that their business would strongly increase this month vs. the same month last year, up from 29% one year ago.

Q3 2017

Stacked bar chart illustrating Q3 2017 statistics: 29% strong increase, 32% mild increase, 23% same, 12% mild decline, 4% strong decline

Q3 2018

stacked bar chart illustrating Q3 2018 statistics: 31% strong increase, 37% mild increase, 24% same, 8% mild decline, 1% strong decline

...particularly among Xometry Partners

36% of Xometry Manufacturing Partners surveyed expect a strong increase in business versus 25% of external respondents.
External Respondents

25%
Strong Increase

 Pie chart slice illustrating Strong Increase: 25%

38%
Mild Increase

 Pie chart slice illustrating Mild Increase: 38%

30%
Same

 Pie chart slice illustrating Same: 30%

8%
Mild Decline

 Pie chart slice illustrating Mild Decline: 8%

0%
Strong Decrease

 Pie chart slice illustrating Strong Decrease: 0%
Xometry Partners
Pie chart slice illustrating Strong Increase: 36%

36%
Strong Increase
Pie chart slice illustrating Mild Increase: 36%

36%
Mild Increase
Pie chart slice illustrating Same: 18%

18%
Same
Pie chart slice illustrating Mild Decline: 8%

8%
Mild Decline
Pie chart slice illustrating Strong Decrease: 2%

2%
Strong Decrease

Data source: Xometry Small Manufacturing Index Survey (conducted September 2018)

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For press inquiries, contact Bill Cronin:
bcronin@xometry.com
240-848-7981

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