TESTING PAST MONTH

While the pandemic has certainly contributed to the shortage of labor in manufacturing, it’s far from being the primary cause. In fact, a whole host of longstanding issues with recruitment and retention have been leading to this widespread shortage for several years. Even back in 2018, estimates were predicting eight million manufacturing jobs would be vacant worldwide by 2030.

Although current estimates are even higher, currently standing at around 10 million vacancies worldwide, it’s clear the storm has been brewing for some time. Global trends such as the pandemic, low unemployment, wage inflation and the digitalization of the industry, along with changes such as Brexit, have only exacerbated a problem that already existed. The result, ultimately, is the manufacturing talent shortage we are seeing today.

Here are five of the top trends that have led to the growing skills shortage across the manufacturing industry.

The skills needed are changing

As manufacturers embrace the technological advancements associated with Industry 4.0, the skills needed to operate optimally and with maximum productivity are changing. Experience in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity and coding are now often in higher demand than manual skills.

However, with many of these technologies still being relatively new, these skills are not common among manufacturing workers. So, while the industry’s dependence on machines and software has increased, the demand for people with the skills to work with these technologies has not been met.

It’s therefore important when adopting new technology to consider its ease-of-use and what skills will be required to use it to its full potential. This challenge is not insurmountable, but at the very least it requires robust training programs for upskilling the existing workforce and for effective onboarding.

Workers are in short supply

It’s not just technical roles that are hard to fill. Even manual and leadership roles are remaining vacant for long periods of time, with manufacturers struggling to find people with the right skills, qualifications or experience to fill them.

As a result, hiring is taking far longer than previously, with 1 in 10 UK manufacturers taking longer than 12 months to fill vacancies – leaving workforces to struggle with insufficient resource while recruitment processes drag on.

Many manufacturers are aiming to bridge the gap by automating more repetitive tasks, enabling skilled workers to focus on the more complex activities. Investing in software, for example, to automate key processes is a way many manufacturers are tackling this facet of the manufacturing talent shortage.

Manufacturing isn’t viewed as an attractive industry

In many parts of the world, manufacturing has generally suffered from a poor reputation among workers. Historically, it’s often seen as unskilled, hard work with long hours and poor working conditions. It’s also assumed to offer low pay and poor progression opportunities.

Additionally, manufacturing has a reputation for providing unstable work. Years of offshoring, supply chain disruption and economic turbulence have resulted in reduced hours and lost jobs across many sectors. As many organizations now look to reshore production, and economies recover, the industry has its work cut out to regain the trust of workers.

Many of these perceptions are largely inaccurate or outdated. But until the industry’s reputation is repaired, workers will continue to be deterred from considering a career in manufacturing. Investing in ways to boost job satisfaction is one way to attract new worker.

• Bridging the manufacturing skills gap with improved process adoption
• How Ideagen Smartforms supports employee retention during the manufacturing skills shortage
• 11 ways manufacturers can use technology to close the skills gap

The workforce is ageing

In many parts of the world, manufacturing has generally suffered from a poor reputation among workers. Historically, it’s often seen as unskilled, hard work with long hours and poor working conditions. It’s also assumed to offer low pay and poor progression opportunities.

Additionally, manufacturing has a reputation for providing unstable work. Years of offshoring, supply chain disruption and economic turbulence have resulted in reduced hours and lost jobs across many sectors. As many organizations now look to reshore production, and economies recover, the industry has its work cut out to regain the trust of workers.

Many of these perceptions are largely inaccurate or outdated. But until the industry’s reputation is repaired, workers will continue to be deterred from considering a career in manufacturing. Investing in ways to boost job satisfaction is one way to attract new worker.

Workers are leaving for better conditions and pay

In many parts of the world, manufacturing has generally suffered from a poor reputation among workers. Historically, it’s often seen as unskilled, hard work with long hours and poor working conditions. It’s also assumed to offer low pay and poor progression opportunities.

Additionally, manufacturing has a reputation for providing unstable work. Years of offshoring, supply chain disruption and economic turbulence have resulted in reduced hours and lost jobs across many sectors. As many organizations now look to reshore production, and economies recover, the industry has its work cut out to regain the trust of workers.

Many of these perceptions are largely inaccurate or outdated. But until the industry’s reputation is repaired, workers will continue to be deterred from considering a career in manufacturing. Investing in ways to boost job satisfaction is one way to attract new worker.

How can we solve the skills shortage?

In many parts of the world, manufacturing has generally suffered from a poor reputation among workers. Historically, it’s often seen as unskilled, hard work with long hours and poor working conditions. It’s also assumed to offer low pay and poor progression opportunities.

Additionally, manufacturing has a reputation for providing unstable work. Years of offshoring, supply chain disruption and economic turbulence have resulted in reduced hours and lost jobs across many sectors. As many organizations now look to reshore production, and economies recover, the industry has its work cut out to regain the trust of workers.

Many of these perceptions are largely inaccurate or outdated. But until the industry’s reputation is repaired, workers will continue to be deterred from considering a career in manufacturing. Investing in ways to boost job satisfaction is one way to attract new worker.