Labor Force: Dispelling Common Myths

We have heard a lot about the shortage of skilled labor. We know that job readiness and training are among the biggest concerns. Greater emphasis on STEM classes and technical training is needed for jobs across many industries. But we have to also recognize that there are some misconceptions about the industry as a whole. We need to start addressing these myths in order to steer workers in the direction of manufacturing and distribution jobs.

The biggest misconception that needs to be addressed is that there are no high-paying jobs in the manufacturing and distribution industry. Digital manufacturing and distribution is revolutionizing the industry, and that in turn is creating a need for higher-skilled jobs, which are also higher-paying. Last week’s blog post spoke about the trend toward customization in the manufacturing and distribution industry. As such, every job has its own specifications and there are shorter production runs. Mold techs are an example of the highly-skilled workers in higher demand due to digitization. With shorter, customized production runs, 10 times more mold techs are needed to prep and tune presses. It’s estimated that an entry-level mold tech position can pay $70,000 per year. Software developers are shaping the digitization of manufacturing and distribution processes.

There is also an employment culture perception that is not always accurate. Warehouses and manufacturing and distribution floors are often seen as smoky, dirty environments. While production environments can differ, many of the incoming software developers are working in well-lit, open offices like you might expect at a tech startup.

Smashing these misconceptions is essential to cultivating the labor force the industry needs. Read more in the full article from Industry Week.