Millennials More Upbeat on Manufacturing’s Future
Increased optimism and changing perceptions about the industry could help turn the tide on a nationwide skills shortage
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A more optimistic outlook among millennials about the future of manufacturing could bode well for an industry that is contending with an ongoing skills shortage. (Graphic:
Nearly half of U.S. millennials (47 percent) think there will be enough
qualified professionals to fill manufacturing job demands in the next 10
years, according to a survey by digital manufacturer
The rosier outlook may be linked to millennials' changing perceptions of manufacturing. According to the survey, 37 percent of millennials see manufacturing as a high-tech career choice – notably higher than both Generation Xers (27 percent) and baby boomers (23 percent). Also, 49 percent of millennials believe engineering is a needed skill in today’s manufacturing sector, compared with only 41 percent of baby boomers.
Digital manufacturing has paved the way for a larger breadth of
opportunities in addition to the plant floor roles solely and
traditionally associated with the industry. Today, top manufacturers
must fill a range of skilled positions—from mold techs, to applications
engineers, to software developers. The digitalization of the industry
has transformed yesterday’s manual nature of manufacturing to the
high-tech environment it is today. It is increasingly important for the
manufacturing industry to continue shifting its outdated public image,
as, in the next decade, it is estimated that 2 million out of the 3.5
million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled due to talent shortages (
“I expected to begin my career at what you might consider a traditional
technology company, like
Millennials Also More Optimistic on Manufacturing Salaries
The financial benefit of a career in manufacturing is another perception
that’s changing among young people. According to the survey, 40 percent
of millennial respondents think a career in today’s manufacturing
industry is high-paying, compared with only 26 percent of Generation
Xers. Indeed, the average U.S. manufacturing worker makes more than
“Digital manufacturing is revitalizing our industry and is igniting new
opportunities,” said
About the survey
The public-opinion online poll was commissioned by
About
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Source:
Proto Labs
Sarah Ekenberg, 763-479-7560
Public
Relations Manager, Proto Labs
sarah.ekenberg@protolabs.com
or
Media
Contact
Padilla for Proto Labs
Tim Nelson,
612-455-1789
Tim.Nelson@PadillaCo.com