Is now the right time for you to start your career in U.S. Manufacturing?
I found this chart on Global Macro Monitor Blog on WordPress. They look at it for their purposes. Lets look at it for ours.
I started my manufacturing career in September 1973, near the bottom of the “Nixon Decline.” It wasn’t easy- I had plenty of layoffs- but there was plenty of upside and I went from laborer in a sintering plant through a series of jobs to become, senior plant metallurgist, quality director, plant manager, division director for quality and technology.
Being in the right place at the right time (manufacturing) from 1973 to 1977 allowed me to take advantage of the upside in manufacturing that gave me the momentum to grow my career.
Looking at the chart above, 2012 looks like the exact same opportunity, only better.
Global Macro Monitor lists some of the factors which influenced the chart above:
- Strengthening of the dollar during the 1980′s;
- Globalization;
- Entry of China and India into the global labor force;
- The internet;
- Improved productivity;
- Technological innovation;
- Demographics and worker preferences;
- All of the above.
I speak and meet with precision machining company managers and owners daily.
All are looking for people with skills and talent.
All are investing in training for their proven performers.
Our National Technical Conference last week had over 102 first time attendees.
Twice as many companies offerred internships as there were students in our first Right Skills Now class.
A comment I received yesterday on Linked In: “I teach Precision Machining and our students are all getting jobs now and the starting pay is getting better… ”
These are some very strong indicators that now is a great time to start a career in manufacturing.
If you can do the math and solve problems based on your experiences, we’d love to have you in our precision machining industry.
P.S. And even though I characterized it as the “Nixon Decline,” I am not at all holding any president responsible for these.
There are far more important factors at play in this chart than whether or not there is a Donkey or an Elephant in the oval office.
Harry Moser says:
Miles,
Great message!
My ppt on how to recruit the next generation of skilled professionals is at: http://tinyurl.com/33vpz9k.
There is a tight connection between skilled workforce and reshoring. Reshoring needs more and better trained skilled workforce. Recruiting needs reshoring to succeed so our youth believe that there will be stable manufacturing careers.
Best!
speakingofprecision says:
Thanks Harry. I’ll try to reach you privately to get some of those slides to reblog.
Excellent!
Miles
Harry Moser says:
Miles,
I am quite sure you can download from the site.
Best!
Stephen Hohman says:
It’s suprising how hard it is to find workers with hard working skills, I do wish more people would step up in this work force. Global manufacturing is taking off still and it’s a good thing but it’s also scary for some.