Federal data released this week show that U.S. manufacturing job openings soared to 706,000 in March, a new record. According to Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, job postings have risen to “stratospheric levels.” Meanwhile, U.S. job openings are at an all-time high, and workforce participation is far below where it was in early 2020. In March, Ohio reported 659,400 manufacturing jobs — up more than 2,000 jobs from February — but significantly lower than the 695,000 jobs in January 2020. 5/12/2021