I’ll be on a panel about workforce development Tuesday September 11th at 11AM CST at the IMTSedu booth N-6677 in the North building.
Workforce development is our industry’s most critical issue.
Here’s a sneak peek to convince you. In just 8 years:
As we race toward a demographic cliff, high paying skilled jobs in our industry are being ignored by young people as they go into debt for a college degree that increasingly no longer assures a job nor even above average pay.
We need to help today’s talent find their career in precision machining.
I and the other speakers, Greg Jones from AMT, Craig McAtee from NCATC, Chad Schron from ToolingU, and Darlene Miller from Permac Industries and the President’s Job Council will be there to share ideas about workforce development and what we need to do NOW.
I’ll have more to share Tuesday, hope to see you there!
Demographics about workforce from BLS Monthly Labor Review January 2012
More facts about College vs Advanced Manufacturing
Why Manufacturing is the Right Career Choice
http://pmpaspeakingofprecision.com/2012/05/02/why-manufacturing-is-the-right-career-choice-data/
kfitch7275 says:
Miles – Another great article. We are trying to do similar things here in North Central Pennsylvania and I read your article as I prepare to attend a High School Open House at the end of the month.
A question for you and your peers as you look at this data: At what point will it make sense for highly technical folks (Engineers, Quality Managers, etc.) to reevaluate their career path and their higher potential for advancement in a position such as a Machinist? Career opportunities follow the same supply and demand rules as the Steel industry, and it looks like demand is going to continue to be higher than supply.
Salaries are going to start reflecting this higher demand and I think the labor industry will react. The problem is that it will hurt US Manufacturing as it will be translated as a higher cost to the customer.
It’s scary, but I don’t have to tell you that.
speakingofprecision says:
Actually it’s not a ” reevaluate and go down in position,” it will be “add machining skills and now become a project engineer” adding even greater value for the company. I just returned from two and a half days at IMTS and EVERY SINGLE MACHINE BUILDER and sophisticated tooling and support company told me that they were looking for sales engineerws and process engineers and technicians. so that they could get current on work already in the queue. I hate to be seen as a “gushing fanboy” on anything, but The opportunities that are currently and in the future available in this field are staggering in their potential.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment- and your efforts at making a difference in skilled workforce development in Pennsylvania.