Manufacturing Workforces: Attracting Young, Fresh Talent to Your Company
There is no shortage of innovation and quality when it comes to the manufacturing sector, but there is definitely a potential crisis on the horizon when it comes to attracting a new generation of workers to the industry.
The clock is ticking
You would be right in thinking that a manufacturing industry that has embraced new technology and innovation would be an attractive arena for the new generation of graduates to consider carving a career in.
There are plenty of successful manufacturing businesses such as Midlake, who are always looking to introduce innovative products and services to their portfolio and many companies like this are anticipating steady growth over the next decade.
The problem is that only an estimated one in four workers in manufacturing companies are aged below 30 years, which means the biological clock is ticking. If more is not done to attract a new generation of workers who are keen to make their mark, there will surely come a point where there is a shortage of people to meet the demands facing manufacturing in the future.
In need of an image makeover
Manufacturing very often gets a bad press. The message needs to get through to young people that a career in this industry is way more than pulling some levers and pushing buttons on an assembly line.
The aim must be to get people to change their perceptions of manufacturing and allow them to see the opportunities that exist to develop a successful and rewarding career. The industry is more than capable of offering young people the high-tech, highly-skilled and financially rewarding career that this generation craves.
photo: photologue_np via Flickr
Manufacturing has changed
The message needs to be conveyed to a dynamic new workforce that manufacturing has evolved.
This means that you are probably more likely to encounter computerized numerical control equipment and use 3-D printers than to be using a mill and lathe. Manufacturing means producing all the sorts of things that young people have grown up using such as smartphones and hi-tech gadgets.
These products all need parts and future models need computer programmers, engineers, designers and machinists to deliver them from the factory to retail.
Jobs available
It is estimated that at least 500,000 manufacturing jobs remain unfilled because employers have been unable to obtained skilled workers capable of filling these positions.
The Manpower group publish an annual talent shortage survey and the results support the theory that there is definitely an issue that needs addressing, with skilled trade workers heading the list of the ten hardest jobs to fill.
There are jobs available for machinists, technicians and industrial engineers. With retirements and vacancies created through expansion, there will always be a steady pipeline of work that can fulfil the ambitions of people who are starting out on their career path.
The issue is selling it to them successfully. With a mixture of youth and adult apprenticeships to tackle the skills shortage and the collaboration of manufacturing companies with high schools to generate the required level of interest, hopefully perceptions will change.
When that happens, young and fresh talent will be able to help manufacturing to thrive in the future.
Guest Post :
Julie Shrum heads the sales team at Midlake. Julie has grown up in the hinges business and she has watched this bricks and mortar store venture into the online world. She enjoys blogging about modern business practices using technology and social media. Follow Julie and Midlake on their Facebook page.
