Shumita Basu

In recent weeks, Israel has called up tens of thousands of reservists, including Tamir, to help expand its offensive in Gaza. But Tamir decided he wouldn't return. He published an open letter calling Israel's rhetoric around the war deceptive, specifically Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stated goal of returning the Israeli hostages and destroying Hamas.

Margalit spoke to other members of Israel's military, including a commander, who told her he doesn't know why he's fighting anymore.

Margalit spoke to other members of Israel's military, including a commander, who told her he doesn't know why he's fighting anymore.

Margalit spoke to other members of Israel's military, including a commander, who told her he doesn't know why he's fighting anymore.

Now to the domestic manufacturing industry, which is facing a confusing problem.

Now to the domestic manufacturing industry, which is facing a confusing problem.

Now to the domestic manufacturing industry, which is facing a confusing problem.

That's NPR's Greg Roselski with Planet Money. He set out to try to answer the question, with all the talk of boosting domestic manufacturing, why aren't Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have? As of March, there are nearly half a million open manufacturing jobs, according to government data, and probably more coming.

That's NPR's Greg Roselski with Planet Money. He set out to try to answer the question, with all the talk of boosting domestic manufacturing, why aren't Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have? As of March, there are nearly half a million open manufacturing jobs, according to government data, and probably more coming.

That's NPR's Greg Roselski with Planet Money. He set out to try to answer the question, with all the talk of boosting domestic manufacturing, why aren't Americans filling the manufacturing jobs we already have? As of March, there are nearly half a million open manufacturing jobs, according to government data, and probably more coming.

The current and previous administrations have taken steps to boost manufacturing in the United States, whether it be Biden's Chips and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act or Trump's tariffs. Some estimates predict that Biden's policies alone could add millions of more jobs over the next decade or so. But Rosalski told us the industry is struggling to find workers.

The current and previous administrations have taken steps to boost manufacturing in the United States, whether it be Biden's Chips and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act or Trump's tariffs. Some estimates predict that Biden's policies alone could add millions of more jobs over the next decade or so. But Rosalski told us the industry is struggling to find workers.

The current and previous administrations have taken steps to boost manufacturing in the United States, whether it be Biden's Chips and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act or Trump's tariffs. Some estimates predict that Biden's policies alone could add millions of more jobs over the next decade or so. But Rosalski told us the industry is struggling to find workers.

So what's driving this? The president of the Manufacturing Institute told Rosalski she believes the industry has a major PR problem, that people today have an outdated idea of what these jobs look like.

So what's driving this? The president of the Manufacturing Institute told Rosalski she believes the industry has a major PR problem, that people today have an outdated idea of what these jobs look like.

So what's driving this? The president of the Manufacturing Institute told Rosalski she believes the industry has a major PR problem, that people today have an outdated idea of what these jobs look like.

Another reason these roles have been tough to fill, many require higher levels of education. Manufacturing used to be a strong career option for people with a high school diploma, but roughly half of the open roles today require a college degree, as the technology in plants has gotten more sophisticated. And finally, there's the issue of pay.

Another reason these roles have been tough to fill, many require higher levels of education. Manufacturing used to be a strong career option for people with a high school diploma, but roughly half of the open roles today require a college degree, as the technology in plants has gotten more sophisticated. And finally, there's the issue of pay.

Another reason these roles have been tough to fill, many require higher levels of education. Manufacturing used to be a strong career option for people with a high school diploma, but roughly half of the open roles today require a college degree, as the technology in plants has gotten more sophisticated. And finally, there's the issue of pay.

Manufacturers have raised pay in recent years, and offering more would likely incentivize more people to consider the jobs. But Rozalski says that raises another perplexing question for the industry.