America is also becoming a lower-cost manufacturing destination when companies consider the “total cost of ownership,” or TCO: the cost of quality, delivery, transportation, energy consumption, labor monitoring, carrying stock, freight, packaging, and all other aspects of production, as well as labor costs. Energy costs are particularly important, and thanks to shale gas, energy in the U.S. is significantly cheaper than before. – David Sims, U.S. to Match China in Manufacturing Attractiveness by 2015 

Does this mean the eventual return of good paying blue-collar jobs? Here is a nice summary based on a report from the business consulting firm Alixpartners. 

To see the complete report and analysis click here.