A study by Deloitte and the National Manufacturing Association states that the net need for new workers in manufacturing stands at about 3.8 million between 2024 and 2033. Are those skilled workers? Knowledge workers? What are the career pathways in manufacturing? And how do educators help funnel students toward these opportunities?
Andrew Pokalwalt, director of education and workforce at research organization The Composites Institute, known as IACMI, addressed these questions during a recent webinar discussion with Kanoe Namahoe, editorial director for SmartBrief Education. Pokalwaldt shared insights on job demand, employee challenges that manufacturers face and how schools can partner with industry to fill local workforce gaps. Here are highlights from that conversation.
Job demand is high
Career opportunities abound in manufacturing, according to Pokalwaldt. Jobs can vary depending on the manufacturing sector, but demand is high across the industry for entry-level, skilled and knowledgeable workers. Nearly every facility has a significant need for engineering and design, not just for products, but also for production methods, assembly lines and equipment. They need workers who can use digital tools and work with automated systems such as robotics and conveyors. Manufacturers also need in-house teams to maintain, install and ensure everything runs properly.
“There is a lot of maintenance, machining, knowledge and expertise that go into getting a manufacturing facility to run properly,” says Pokalwaldt.
Demand is also high in the supply chain and sourcing. The supply chain involves people marketing products, managing order fulfillment and coordinating deliveries of raw materials and products. Sourcing teams ensure raw materials and necessary components are consistently available so operations run efficiently.
“Especially in larger, more complex manufacturing operations, you don’t want to shut it down because you ran out of material,” Pokalwaldt says. “We saw that back in 2020, when people had struggles with supply chains, how quickly things went awry.”
What employers want
Most manufacturing jobs must be performed at the manufacturing site, but some regions are thin on labor. Workers in this industry need to be willing to go where the work is. “The workforce isn’t always where the factory is,” Pokalwaldt says. “I’ve traveled to manufacturing facilities all over the country over the last fifteen years, and some of them are not in the center of everything.”
Technology is constantly advancing, and workers must keep pace. “What people have to know or are willing to learn is changing quickly,” says Pokalwaldt. “There’s a lot more technology that they’re going to have their hands on when they get into a manufacturing facility. [Y]ou have to have training to utilize that equipment.”
Manufacturing is not just about technical skill. Workers must be able to communicate, work well with others and adapt quickly to change.
“We definitely have some challenges in those soft skills,” says Pokalwaldt, citing the example of training that The Composites Institute conducts. “When we do a week-long training with people, they’re interacting and working with not only the instructor and the equipment, but also with other people who are attending. That would be similar to working with people who are on a jobsite somewhere.”
Some workers struggle initially, but with guidance and practice, they improve, says Pokalwaldt. “Behaving in a manufacturing facility or working properly with other teammates is stuff that can be taught, practiced and executed,” he says. “It’s definitely something that can be done by people who aren’t used to manufacturing.”
Pique students’ interest in manufacturing
Nurturing student interest in manufacturing does not have to be an uphill battle, according to Pokalwaldt. He recommends starting with some basic questions.
“What’s your plan? Do you want to work in this local area?” Pokalwaldt asks. “Should we be concentrating on some of those manufacturing jobs or other jobs? Do you have the ambition to go somewhere else where some of these jobs are?”
Asking these questions early helps prepare students for life after high school. Some may not have goals or a plan laid out, but these questions help give them a concrete starting point, according to Pokalwaldt.
“They don’t always know what their plan is exactly, but you want to look at that, even for students who might not have ever thought of working in manufacturing,” he says. “Maybe they’re on a college prep track and they think, ‘I don’t want to go to work. I want to go to a school or a university after high school.’ There are manufacturing and engineering majors, and roles and jobs that they could do. There are entire departments.”
Next, tell students about the income potential in manufacturing. Many young people have misconceptions about the work and salaries. Combat these notions with salary data.
“Most manufacturing jobs do offer very good wages, benefits and opportunities,” says Pokalwaldt. “[W]here you live is going to affect what those rates are, [but] on average, manufacturing wages are 10-15% higher than some of the equivalent entry-level jobs that are available all over the country.”
Connect with industry organizations
Educators should invest time developing relationships with local manufacturing companies, trade associations and agencies. Many offer programs to educate potential workers about the field. IACMI works with universities, technical schools and community colleges to offer training programs nationwide. Much of the skills training focuses on composites and machining, as well as casting and forging for metals, which are in high demand.
“We provide some entry-level training work that can be done by even high school kids, but it’s designed to give them an introduction to certain kinds of manufacturing skills online,” says Pokalwaldt. “Then we do week-long trainings where they’ll be in certain technical areas, depending on what the people need.”
The programs have led some participants to pursue additional education. “[S]ome people decide to go on and get a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in engineering or industrial systems,” says Pokalwaldt.
Internships and apprenticeships are also good ways for students to learn on the job and for employers to meet prospective employees, says Pokalwaldt.
“You’re getting paid and working with a manufacturer,” Pokaldwaldt says. “We tend to see a lot of them in the machining space…sometimes we’re introducing them to the employers because they’re really struggling to get somebody in a certain area.”
These relationships and experiences help educators stay current with industry developments and new opportunities for their students, says Pokaldwaldt.
“This year, I spent some time working with STEM and science teachers at a conference introducing [the teachers] to the different things that we’re doing nationwide and how they can use these programs,” Pokaldwaldt says. “The Composites Institute’s programs online are free for people to enroll their students in.”