Upskilling in manufacturing: Building the industrial workforce of the future

Despite all the talk of automation eating up jobs, US manufacturing is expected to have 1.9 million unfilled vacancies by 2033. At the same time, market fluctuations and supply chain disturbances mean that more and more companies are opening up well-paid, purposeful jobs for American workers.

To seize these opportunities, manufacturers need to start creating new career paths today. That begins with carefully mapping current and future skills requirements, from today’s workers to the engineers and data scientists driving manufacturing’s digital future. And that means reskilling and reemploying their workforces, fast.

Cultivate highly transferable skills to make your workforce ‘disruption proof’

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, some sub-sectors of manufacturing have been facing more unexpected challenges than others. So how can manufacturers stay nimble and ready to pivot their offering in line with future market lunges?

Well, across sub-sectors, today’s manufacturing jobs are increasingly high-tech, blending traditional competencies like welding and machining with cutting-edge digital know-how. That’s why we recommend building standardized skills around lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and quality control, in addition to disruptive manufacturing technologies, from AI and wearable tech, to 3D printing, robotics, and virtual reality.

Technology holds the key to building a disruption-proof workforce – even for hiring. We harness AI and data-driven solutions to help our manufacturing customers solve their staffing problems.

Tap into skills from non-traditional talent pools

Manufacturers must move faster to foster more inclusive workforces if they are to close the skills gap. Upskilling multiple generational segments of the workforce is just one compelling opportunity. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that around 25% of America’s workers will be age 55 and older by 2026, yet only 3.3% of all apprentices were over 50. The reality of America’s aging workforce demands that manufacturers embrace upskilling or reskilling all of their workers, especially through apprenticeships, if they are to have a sustainable talent strategy.

Reskilling workers from other sectors is other great source of new people and competencies, with 16% of new hires in US manufacturing already coming from outside the sector, according to PwC research.

Hundreds of thousands of workers across industries are struggling in the face of mass layoffs, but they could be re-skilled for in-demand manufacturing roles like welding, machining, and fabrication. Customer service, emotional intelligence, and other softer skills can be highly valuable – and transfer seamlessly – across sectors.

Offer meaningful, long-term training and development

Upskilling comes in many shapes and sizes. From on-the-job training to formal certifications, embracing creative solutions can enhance your talent pool while boosting retention. Employers won’t necessarily have to bear the financial burden of upskilling alone.

Working with us means access to the many upskilling and reskilling programs supported by the Adecco Group US Foundation. It’s crucial to maintain career-boosting upskilling opportunities even in the face of today's uncertain labor market. Read how we partnered with a Georgia manufacturer to deliver a creative upskilling solution to plug a skills shortfall at the height of the pandemic last year.

At Adecco, we are passionate about addressing America’s skills gap, and creating greater economic opportunity for all American workers. Among employment agencies, we have the biggest candidate database in the country, and we work with more than 1,450 manufacturing customers annually. Learn how we help some of America’s biggest companies redeploy and reskill key talent.