The US Must Lead the Way in Advanced Manufacturing Talent

Tapping into workforce resources at the national level can advance the skills of the labor force locally.

As U.S. manufacturing continues to recover from the challenges ushered in by the pandemic, the industry currently is facing a workforce shortage. According to a 2021 study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030. This statistic raises the critical question of how to fill these roles with qualified personnel tailored to the needs of industry.

Technology continues to evolve and change, opening up career possibilities in the fields of additive manufacturing, robotics, automation, and AI, all emerging and disruptive. Not only will these roles require candidates who are properly trained in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and innovation—but they will change some of the landscape of current roles in the sector. 

To generate a manufacturing resurgence in the U.S., we must tackle this workforce need with a multifaceted approach that includes building awareness—among both youth and adults—of pathways to entering the industry. On the technical side, it is imperative that the candidates are equipped with enhanced skills, particularly for the benefit of small- and mid-sized companies that make up the majority of manufacturing in our nation (and must do more with less). 

How Can We Create, Build and Grow a Workforce to Support the Demand?

Key to meeting this demand is large-scale, public-private collaboration, or “national strategy driving local impact.” The need for talent, although a national imperative, is felt mostly on the local level. Local leaders and manufacturers must actively engage in discussions that address specific talent-pool needs and foster inclusivity for all members of their communities. Talent shortages and mismatches of knowledge, skills, and abilities can be solved when local teams leverage the nation’s best practices and strategies, including outreach, onboarding programs, and training for reskilling and upskilling. 

There is great strength in leveraging national resources on the local level to create manufacturing skills programs. Bringing in local leaders in industry, government and academic to define skill sets, competencies and career pathways will both strengthen the local economy and help further a national manufacturing resurgence.

Initiatives range from upskill or reskill rapid training programs, to youth and pre-apprenticeships, internships, career development, fully recognized apprenticeship programs, and post-graduate programs. The future of US manufacturing involves innovation, education, and collaboration to empower the next generation and strengthen the nation’s manufacturing sector. It will take all of us.

For instance, there is a great need for properly trained talent in manufacturing cybersecurity. To address this need across industries, President Joe Biden recently announced a plan to upskill over 1 million people in cybersecurity by 2026. The National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy includes increasing the amount and availability of entry-level cyber educational programs, along with accelerating training and strategic collaborations to safeguard the U.S. manufacturing sector, infrastructure and economy.

Education and Industry Working Together

Manufacturing is very different today than it was even 20 years ago. Although there are core manufacturing processes that must exist to maintain the forward momentum of the industry, many environments, tasks, job roles, functions, and companies are evolving with a broad range of advanced technologies and methodologies.   

Workforce training programs for advanced manufacturing skills will have the highest impact if they happen in parallel with advanced technology implementation efforts by manufacturing firms.

Studies have identified a clear need for workers to receive more extensive training in the entire manufacturing process: from fabrication and assembly to design and execution—as well as the need to train recent advanced engineering graduates on how to design for manufacturing and move prototyping into a production environment. A multi-faceted solution is needed that begins with tackling awareness issues, then builds strong local pathways for gaining experience and training and connects companies to 21st century talent, both youth and adults. 

Creating initiatives that cultivate an early interest in advanced manufacturing careers among students and offer a clear educational trajectory for acquiring the requisite skills will help enable them to transition into manufacturing roles and establish a continual flow of fresh talent into the manufacturing sector.

Not Just Recent Graduates

Those looking to reskill, upskill or even start over are a valuable pool of future workforce candidates. Providing upskilling opportunities for the existing workforce must be a focus while they work in their current roles. Gaining industry recognized credentials, and competency validations while helping companies build progressive training programs aligned to national frameworks is a win- win for all. 

America Makes has mapped over 70 credentials in advanced manufacturing that are industry-recognized, and it assessed them at three skill levels – technicians, technologists, and engineers – to find the needs in manufacturing at each level. It aligned current needs and future trends to identify any gaps, then set new requirements to work collaboratively through public and private partnerships that include manufacturers, academia, national stakeholders, and local deployment partners.

Similarly, a consistent, forward-thinking outlook regarding the future of advanced manufacturing workforce is needed. Updating job descriptions and documenting the education requirements for evolving roles can serve as a reference for curriculum development and allow to draw upon those requirements in their hiring processes. These new bodies of knowledge can become the national strategy leveraged locally to create and build local impact. 

Collaboration Is the Key to our Future Workforce

The growing skills gap and need for increased awareness of advanced manufacturing underscores the need for an emphasis on collaboration among a diverse array of industry stakeholders, identifying needs, and leveraging existing capabilities, facilities and programs to bridge the prevailing workforce gaps. 

The collaboration must be achieved at all levels, nationally and locally, but must also be realized through public and private sectors as well as community-based and nonprofit stakeholders. The convergence of these perspectives can pave the way for new talent to embark on career paths in advanced manufacturing. 

To remain competitive, grow, and thrive, the manufacturing industry needs a strong and diverse talent stream.  It will take the involvement of all key stakeholders to achieve success. From the largest national manufacturing entity to the smallest local manufacturer, from the community-based non-profit to the local school district, to our elected officials, parents, and students—all have a role to play in revitalizing manufacturing.

Written by: Josh Cramer, M.Ed., director of education and workforce development at America Makes, and a Member of Manufacturing USA, for Industry Week.