Work It Out: How to Support Future Jobs in Manufacturing

Are you struggling with finding skilled workers for the job? The manufacturing industry could face a potential shortage of 2.4 million workers over the next decade.

A shift in the skills needed to support manufacturing is creating a huge shortage of qualified workers that will only get worse over the next 10 years. About 89% of manufacturers are leaving jobs unfilled, because they can’t find qualified candidates.

This skills gap isn’t just bad for businesses but also the manufacturing industry and economy as a whole. Without a strong workforce, the industry could struggle to seize new market opportunities or develop the next great product.

Another concern for manufacturers is the inability to maintain or increase production levels to satisfy growing customer demands. About 60% of manufacturers say that the skills gap will have a high or very high impact on productivity over the next three years.

For manufacturers, building a strong workforce means taking a more aggressive approach to recruitment. Here are a few strategies to help manufacturers bring more skilled workers through the door:

• Give higher pay and skilled bonuses to skilled workers. The 2018 Deloitte report discovered a whopping 15% increase in the number of companies offering higher pay to skilled workers, compared to 2015. Today, a shocking 83% of executives offer higher pay to attract and retain skilled workers.
• Relax hiring requirements. Beyond just offering higher pay and signing bonuses, many manufacturers have relaxed hiring requirements or even moved production to domestic job shops to keep pace with the rise in product demand. For example, many organizations shorten the required years of experience or reduce the required academic credentials. About 46% of employers who relax hiring requirements say it helps them expand their reach and find more qualified candidates.
• Automate hiring technology. Automated interview software can help manufacturers expand their reach and hire skilled talent across the country and even around the world to keep up with rising demands. This software also helps manufacturers get through the interviewing process faster and improve their candidate experience. A higher volume of top hires is just a bonus!

As economic expansion and customer demand put pressure on manufacturers, these strategies can help them support job growth over the next decade. Offering higher pay to qualified candidates and using video interviews to speed up the hiring process will help manufacturers land that next top hire.

Interested in learning more about how your organization can keep up with the rising demand for talent? Check out the biggest hiring trends to be on the lookout for in 2020 in our next blog.

About The Author

Esteban Gomez is a marketing consultant with interviewstream. He loves learning and has a passion for traveling, having visited many countries including China, Colombia, Italy, and Peru.