The Advanced Manufacturing Dilemma for the Next Decade
Do you remember the feeling of landing your first job or becoming employed after experiencing a downsizing program with your previous employer? The feelings of being nervous, unsure of yourself, will I work well with others in the office/agency, coupled with the feeling of euphoria in getting a new career are all emotions involved in this process. For many Digital Careers NOW Participants, this feeling is becoming a reality. Our program model components are very instrumental in assisting dislocated workers in their quest for a new job. At the same time, as an employer offering a potential employee a new job, their feelings may be quite different. The employer's hope in gaining a highly skilled, dependable employee can quickly result in a disappointment or high turnover rate within their organization. This disappointing result can be minimized by providing high quality customized training prior to the hiring of an employee.
We (Digital Careers NOW) are providing targeted employer driven training to customize the skills of potential employees to allow for a good fit for the both the employer and the employee. Current research demonstrates the need for highly skilled employees in the sectors of informational technology, medical technology and advanced manufacturing. A true skill gap exists in each of these sectors, especially in the advanced manufacturing sector. It is estimated by the year 2025, nearly 2.5 million manufacturing jobs will likely need to be filled and the skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of those jobs going unfilled (Deloitte, 2015). This reduction in the manufacturing talent of skilled workers exists for many reasons such as, lack of students graduating in STEM fields, a negative connotation associated with advanced manufacturing positions, and a lack of basic soft skills among potential candidates. According to a survey conducted with over 450 manufacturing executives by the Deloitte Manufacturing Institute in 2015, the following skills were reported as the most deficient among manufacturing employees: Technology/Computer Skills 70%, Problem Solving Skills 69%, Basic Technical Training 67%, Math Skills 60%.
The inability of candidates to pass the screening and/or probationary period was among the highest challenges faced during an employee recruitment period. The report revealed 79% of manufacturing executives agreed it was extremely challenging for candidates to pass this period of the employment process. At the same time, the executives felt the best remedy to this dilemma was to provide adequate training, with 94% agreeing internal employee training and development programs are among the most effective skilled production workforce development program strategies. Additionally, 72% percent agreed involvement with local community colleges is critical to solving this skill gap deficit. This data supports the dire need for training in the advanced manufacturing sector of employment, which aligns well with our Digital Careers NOW Model.
Our Digital Careers NOW Team looks forward to working alongside our industry leaders in not only advanced manufacturing, but all of our sectors and alleviating the burdens faced by employers within our economy. We are excited to join together to beat the odds and provide a skilled workforce for the next decade. Again, together we can change the digital landscape of Eastern Kentucky one person at a time!