Need for Skilled Workers: Topic of MAST Meeting

Manufacturers are facing a workforce crisis that threatens to become even worse in the coming years. Peggy Walton, Director of Workforce Initiatives at the National Association of Manufacturers, Manufacturing Institute was the keynote speaker of the Annual Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier. “Multiple workforce challenges are threatening U.S. manufacturing,” stated Walton. “Baby boomers will leave the workforce in mass over the next ten years with a population of 18-24 year olds behind them that is much smaller. Compounding the issue is that many young people do not want to work in manufacturing and those that do are often not prepared with the math and science skills that are increasingly important to the modern manufacturing facility.”

     Ms. Walton addressed a packed crowd of regional manufacturers at the Town Club at the 107^th Annual Meeting of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier. As part of her presentation Walton encouraged manufacturers to tell their story to the community. “You have a story to tell, and it is an important story to get out to the community,” stated Walton. As part of Ms. Walton’s presentation she pointed to several facts that indicate that manufacturing is alive and well.

• Manufacturing is producing more now than at any other time in history, In fact, if U. S. manufacturing were an independent economy, it would be the 8^th largest in the world.
• Manufacturing is the second largest contributor to GDP growth.
• Manufacturing outpaces other non-farm sectors in productivity.
• Manufacturing offers higher average compensation than any other non-public sector of the economy.
• While there are about 14 million Americans working in manufacturing today, there’s an additional 8 million working in other sectors whose jobs depend on manufacturing---in sectors like wholesale trade, insurance and construction.  That’s a total of 22 million jobs.
• Manufacturing is the largest contributor to research and development of all economic sectors.

     “Manufacturers face many challenges,” stated Walton. “One of the most significant challenges we face is the need for a technically trained workforce. An aging workforce, low high school graduation rates, a lack of math and science skills and an inaccurate perception of manufacturing is leading to a significant skills shortage for manufacturers unless we are pro-active and turn it around.”  The NAM has launched the DREAM IT DO IT career campaign initiative to help regions throughout the United States address the workforce skills gap challenge. DREAM IT DO IT aligns key stakeholders around a focused goal of encouraging young people to enter manufacturing related careers and assuring that education and career pathways exist to help young people attain the skills needed to gain these outstanding careers. Key stakeholders include manufacturing companies, school systems, colleges, universities, workforce investment boards, economic development entities, community based organizations that work with young people, as well as local, state and federal governments.