Pennsylvania’s advanced manufacturing and materials industry has recently begun another renaissance in its development. The state ranked 5th in overall manufacturing value added with $98.2 billion in 2010 — five percent of the national value, and has the 6th largest manufacturing GSP in the U.S. Manufacturers in Pennsylvania now account for more than 12 percent of the total output in the state, and are experiencing the best production levels in the state’s history. Employment has risen substantially in the last two years — 12,100 jobs were created in 2011 alone. Governor Tom Corbett’s Jobs First PA initiative, which focuses on a two-pronged approach of investing in Pennsylvania workers and partnering with job creators, aims to add to this rising employment trend. Manufacturing productivity outpaces all other sectors with a 259% increase over the last 40 years, and it shows. Total output from manufacturing has ranged from $64 to $71 billion for the past several years — it was $71 billion in 2011.