The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City released the January Manufacturing Survey Thursday showing manufacturing activity in Oklahoma and other states that make up the Tenth District continued to grow strongly.
“Regional factory activity expanded at a faster pace in January,” said Chad Wilkerson, vice president and economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City,
“However, over half of firms indicated that 10% or more of their workers were out at some point in January due to COVID. Expectations for future activity remained strong, despite firms reporting difficulties from COVID, labor shortages, and continued supply chain issues.”
Based on comments from those who were interviewed, COVID obviously had an impact.
“We have had an increase of team members out with COVID or quarantined. About 60 company-wide, which is 2-3 times the number we had the previous 6 months.”
“Very hard to keep production up with increased COVID activity.”
“COVID isolations and quarantines lead to construction delays for labor shortages, and increased supplier lead times for the same reason.”
“We have escaped any mass infections due to workplace layouts, masks, temp checks, and numerous other changes. Any impact has been short term and then we have caught up within the next month.”
“Most out due to exposure and have to gain negative tests prior to returning to work.”
Click here to read the survey results.