Millions Of Future Jobs
According to a study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed and two million are expected to go unfilled due to the gap between the talent manufacturers’ need to keep growing their businesses and the talent they can actually find.
A Better, Safer Work Environment
A large cause of the gap is a lack of knowledge and understanding about what a career in manufacturing actually looks like. The stereotype over the years has been that work is monotonous and factories are dark, dirty and dangerous places. The truth is that manufacturing plants are very technologically advanced places and a lot of the work that is manufactured is highly mechanized.
Lucrative Careers, Not Just Jobs
Unlike many other industries that only provide jobs, manufacturing provides careers. Educators, administrators and staff need to realize not all students are bound for college and a four-year degree. Instead, they need to understand alternatives where people can earn a good living wage without straddling themselves with debt.
Many intelligent individuals struggle with traditional high school learning and test-taking. These students are more visual learners and tend to be mechanically inclined. Careers such as a machinist, a tool and die maker or a welder are critical jobs that can be very lucrative due to their high demand, and students have the ability to earn a great wage and start their career right out of high school.
Avoid Crippling Debt
Research conducted by the Idaho Department of Labor found that the average bachelor’s degree in the United States costs $127,000! Additionally, nearly 70 percent of students take out loans to help pay for school. According to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), the average 2016 college graduate has over $37,000 in student loan debt and an average monthly student loan repayment of over $350.
Manufacturing can provide students with a bright future filled with opportunity and success. It can enhance a student’s potential to specialize in lucrative career fields, provide a clean and technical work environment, help advance the U.S. economy and offer paths to additional industry credentials. Working with high-technology equipment, being a part of an important industry and entering into a field with opportunity instead of debt are a few benefits of choosing a career in manufacturing.
Emphasis On Career Readiness
Educators shoulder the responsibility to prepare college-bound students to be “college-ready;” however, they also need to emphasize “career ready” equally. Schools need to reinforce and be comfortable with the statement: “It’s OK to not get a traditional 4-year degree.” After graduation, students need to learn about their options; schools should be driven to provide students with the resources necessary to develop them into productive members of the workforce and society.
Manufacturing Careers In High Demand
Careers in manufacturing are expected to increase at a rate of 10 percent over the next seven years according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those careers range from assembly and fabrication to computer programming, sales and more.
Some manufacturing jobs require certifications and some require degrees, and all are equally important. Whether an individual wants a hands-on job in manufacturing or is interested in behind-the-scenes logistics, there are vast opportunities within the manufacturing sectors —specific industry knowledge can help them pursue many possibilities. Many of the skills learned are applicable to other jobs in the broad manufacturing field. This can make it easier to find jobs and provides more opportunities for career advancement.