{"id":966,"date":"2020-05-12T17:48:28","date_gmt":"2020-05-13T00:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/?p=966"},"modified":"2020-05-12T17:48:28","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T00:48:28","slug":"how-to-leverage-new-technologies-energize-a-new-generation-to-close-the-labor-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/training\/how-to-leverage-new-technologies-energize-a-new-generation-to-close-the-labor-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Leverage New Technologies &#038; Energize a New Generation to Close the Labor Gap"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With\nover 30 million people unemployed right now due to shutdowns and stay-in-place\norders in most states because of COVID-19, it may seem like odd timing for American\nMachinist and IndustryWeek to release a new <a href=\"https:\/\/app.assetsmanu.endeavorb2b.com\/e\/es.aspx?s=893956921&amp;e=829319&amp;elq=e19c3ad9b1f842bba9b0d75ab1ae9a99&amp;elqaid=39711&amp;elqat=1&amp;elqTrackId=953afdb6581940f4980e04c0eefbc586\">eBook<\/a> titled,\n\u201cClosing the Skills Gap &#8211; How manufacturers are leveraging new technologies and\nenergizing a new generation to finally close the labor gap,\u201d sponsored by Epicor\nSoftware Corporation. However, now is the time to be prepared to take advantage\nof the increased interest in returning manufacturing to America and strengthen\nour manufacturing base as a result of the weaknesses in the domestic supply\nchain revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This\neBook is important because the Executive Summary states: \u201cWe are on the cusp of\na full-scale digital revolution in the manufacturing industry\u2026[and] on the cusp\nof an enormous wave of retirements as Baby Boomers exit the job market\u2026we have\na perfect storm.\u201d &nbsp;The result could be that\nthe \u201c500,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs today\u2026[could] balloon to 2.5 million\nover the next decade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The\nfacts are that \u201ca whopping 10,000 Baby Boomers retire every day\u201d and \u201cthe\nskills required for a job don\u2019t match talent in existing worker pools. Five out\nof 10 open positions for skilled workers in the U.S. manufacturing industry\nremain unoccupied today. This shortage is due to the skills gap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The\ngood news is that \u201cOver the last few years, manufacturers across the industry\nhave begun systematically attacking the skills gap head-on\u2026\u201d The eBook outlines\nthe application of the new tactics that manufacturers are applying across\nindustries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, the eBook mentions that Gen Z may be the generation that saves manufacturing from the \u201csilver tsunami.\u201d It reports that a new study, 2019 L2L Manufacturing Index, examining the American public\u2019s perceptions of U.S. manufacturing, found that adults in Generation Z (those aged 18-22) are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>19% more likely to have had a counselor, teacher or mentor suggest\nthey look into manufacturing as a viable career option when compared to the\ngeneral population. <\/li><li>One-third (32%) had manufacturing suggested to them as a career\noption, as compared to only 18% of Millennials and 13% of the general\npopulation. <\/li><li>7% more likely to consider working in the manufacturing industry<\/li><li>12% less likely to view the manufacturing industry as being in\ndecline, both compared against the general population. <\/li><li>one-third (32%) have family members or friends working in the\nmanufacturing industry, compared to 19% for Millennials and 15% for the general\npopulation.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, there is still work to be done about the perception of\nmanufacturing, as \u201cA majority (56%) of Generation Z would consider working in\nthe tech industry, while only 27% would consider working in the manufacturing\nindustry. Additionally, they are more likely to consider manufacturing jobs\nboring when compared to Millennials and the general population.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In\nthe chapter \u201c5 Ways Manufacturing is Tackling the Labor Shortage,\u201d Poornima\nApte lists creative ways manufacturing companies are attracting and recruiting\ntalent: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1.\nEncouraging a Test Drive \u2013 hiring for short-term assignments as a way to\ncompany and worker to test whether there is a good fit for permanent\nemployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2. Advancing and Training Internal Talent \u2013 \u201cPromoting internal\ntalent can be a two-fer. It serves to retain valuable employees, and the\ncompany invests in known entities.\u201d Instead of traditional tuition\nreimbursements for back-to-school training\u2026manufacturing companies are forking\nover the money upfront.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">3. Tapping into Unconventional Talent Pools \u2013 \u201cCompanies are looking beyond the pool of graduating students to recruit blue-collar workers\u2026 such as  ex-convicts looking to reenter the workforce.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Manufacturing\ncompanies are also partnering with organizations that cater to veter\u00adans and\nminorities.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">4.\nLooking beyond the resume \u2013 \u201cBy checking on skillset rather than education\nalone, companies are more closely aligning specific jobs to the talent they\nneed\u202677% of employers are willing to prioritize a candidate\u2019s skills and\npotential over experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">5.\nDiving into Data Analytics \u2013 \u201cManufacturers can analyze demographic factors\nacross the country and find out which places will have the best talent\u2026companies\ncan act on that intelligence proactively and recruit more aggressively in areas\nthey feel have more desirable candidates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next,\nJared Lindzon presents three ways companies can use\ntechnology to attract younger employees in the chapter \u201cHow to Leverage Technology\nto Attract a Younger Workforce:\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Offer elearning \u2013 \u201cAs the first generation to grow up\nwith the Internet, younger workers like having constant access to information.\nBut\u2026they\u2019re often not interested in anything that feels too much like school. Leveraging\nmodern technology that millennials know and love, through eLearning, makes a\nhuge difference.\u201d Millennials are eager to learn. They just want to do it using\nmodern, digital platforms.\u201d <\/li><li>Update Administrative Processes &#8211; \u2026younger workers\nexpect the same level of efficiency, convenience and usability in their work\ntools as they enjoy in their consumer products. \u201cThey bring those same\nexpectations to their jobs, so employers are increasingly exam\u00adining processes\nto provide the same quality experience and ease-of-use for employees using\ntechnology in the workplace\u2026\u201d <\/li><li>Avoid the \u2018If it\u2019s not broke\u2026\u201d Fallacy\u2019\u201d \u2013 \u201c\u2026 staying\nahead of technology trends can help attract younger workers\u2026They thrive off of\nstaying ahead of the tech curve to discover new methods of completing tasks and\nauto\u00admating processes\u2026Younger workers want to feel like they\u2019re working for a company on\nthe cutting edge. The new generation is more flexible, open to change and\nwilling to get hands-on to discover new techniques\u2026\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The\neBook also offers a list of ten suggestions from consulting firm Mercer on how\nto optimize an experienced workforce in the chapter, \u201cLet\u2019s Not Forget The Value\nof Experienced Workers,\u201d warning that \u201cignoring this group is risky. By 2040\nthe <em>average <\/em>life expectancy is predicted to be 80 years, up from 56 in\n1966 and 72 in 2016. As a result, many people are working longer for a variety\nof reasons, including financial necessity, purpose, and social\/ intellectual\nengagement.\u201d A few important key suggestions are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Collect and analyze your age-profile data to explore demographic\nand skills pinch points. <\/li><li>Develop and implement people and careers strategies that embrace\nthe experienced workforce. <\/li><li>Develop a lifelong learning attitude that positions people to\nembrace jobs of the future.<\/li><li>Implement an effective flexible-working strategy. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\nwas really gratified to see that the eBook included the chapter \u201cHow Manufacturing\nDay is Helping Combat the Labor Shortage,\u201d by Tom Bidinger. &nbsp;Manufacturing Day (aka MFG DAY) was started in\n2012 to combat the common misconceptions about manufacturing, and it has made a\ndifference. \u201cMFG DAY\u2014gives manufacturers the opportunity to open their doors\nand show what it\u2019s <em>really <\/em>like to work in manufacturing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\nwas pleased to read that Manufacturing Day is contributing to breaking \u201cthe\ncycle of misinformation when it comes to manufacturing careers. A recent survey\nfound that just 67% of parents would encourage their child to learn more about\njob opportunities in manufacturing. That number needs to increase.\u201d I\u2019ve\nattended events for MFG DAY in three counties, San Diego, Riverside, and Los\nAngeles, since it began in 2012 and have visited dozens of companies to see\nwhat they were manufacturing.&nbsp; It\u2019s been\na pleasure to see that parents are taking the time to take their children and\nteens to visit local manufacturers.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bidinger\nwrites, \u201cBy working together during and after MFG DAY, manufacturers can begin\nto address the skilled labor shortage, connect with future generations, change\nthe public image, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In\nthe next chapter, \u201cAbout the Skills Gap and Start Solving it,\u201d Michael Collins\nwrites that \u201cA lack of training and job security is at the root of\nmanufacturing\u2019s image problem.\u201d He adds, \u201cthe skills gap is real and a\ntwo-pronged problem. First, manufacturing does not have the advanced training\nprograms needed to produce the high skilled workers they need. Second, young\npeople, their parents and counselors do not see manufacturing as a good career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He\nprovides a good summary of what manufacturers, especially large, multinational\ncorporations, have done in the past 40 years to reduce labor costs and other\ncosts of doing business and then discusses some of the tools that can be used\nto address the skills gap.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The\nfinal two chapters provide examples of what two companies are doing to address\nthe skills gap.&nbsp; In the chapter, \u201cModern\nMachining &amp; The Need for Speed,\u201d John Hitches describes what former boxer\nand machining revolutionary, Titan Gilroy, has done in \u201can aggressive strategy\nto combat all the threats to American manufacturing, from outsourcing to the\nskills gap.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In\nthe final chapter, \u201cCreating a National Workforce of Trained Welders,\u201d IndustryWeek\nSenior Editor, Adrienne Selko, describes how Lincoln Electric has partnered\nwith Tooling U-SME to expand its welding education program in order to close\nthe national skills gap in welding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Utilizing\nall of the suggestions contained in this eBook will rebuild American\nmanufacturing to create jobs and prosperity and protect Americans from being so\nseverely impacted by unexpected disasters whether natural or manmade like the\nCoronavirus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With over 30 million people unemployed right now due to shutdowns and stay-in-place orders in most states because of COVID-19, it may seem like odd timing for American Machinist and IndustryWeek to release a new eBook titled, \u201cClosing the Skills Gap &#8211; How manufacturers are leveraging new technologies and energizing a new generation to finally [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[103,51,37,180],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-966","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-jobs-2","category-manufacturing","category-training","category-workforce-development"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/966","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=966"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/966\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":968,"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/966\/revisions\/968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=966"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=966"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savingusmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=966"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}