Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/177117
By the Numbers Deals in the industrial manufacturing sector were more moderately paced in the second quarter of 2013, but acquirers from emerging and developing nations remained actively involved in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The second quarter of 2013 recorded 36 transactions worth more than $50 million for a total deal value of $12.6 billion, compared to 30 deals worth $9.7 billion in the previous quarter this year. Emerging and developing nations represented 31 percent of total deals, more than double from the first quarter of 2013. Of those nations, Asia and Oceania represented the most active region, with 18 transactions worth more than $50 million. Recruiting and retaining women in engineering fields Of engineering undergrads in the United Kingdom, 16 percent are women. In the United States, In the U.S., about 11 percent of workers in the engineering profession currently are women. 18 percent are women. A 2011 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee survey of 5,500 women with engineering degrees found that "workplace climate" was the main reason that women either never pursued (10 percent) or discontinued engineering careers (29 percent). "Workplace climate" includes lack of flexibility, respect and support. "One major point highlighted by the research was the crucial role of training, development and support. This is not just about making sure women engineers perform engineering tasks well. It's also about helping women to manage multiple work-life roles and even managing the political landscape of a male-dominated work environment." – Dr. Alana Collis, equality and diversity policy lead for the Institution of Chemical Engineers Source: The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) In 2012, North Dakota reported the highest annual increase in real per capita GDP of any state for the second consecutive year. The growth coincides with oil development in the Bakken Shale Play. Real per capita GDP in North Dakota increased by nearly 11 percent from the previous year, considerably higher than the national growth rate of less than 2 percent and more than three times the growth rate in Texas (3.27 percent), the state with the next highest annual growth. Wisconsin saw a 1.19 percent growth rate, ranking 27th in the nation. 28 | / insight on manufacturing • September 2013 Source: The U.S. Energy Information Administration and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g .c o m