Skill up: Training workers on electronics, advanced manufacturing and tractor maintenance

Manufacturing would be nothing without the people in offices and on plant floors to manage supplies, run assembly lines, build things, observe quality and, in short, do the work. Yet, qualified manufacturing workers are perennially in short supply. This digest covers recent initiatives, public-private partnerships, and educational efforts to train and source the next generation of manufacturing workers.

Responding to what a company statement called the United States’ “urgent need for a skilled and adaptable workforce,” Siemens AG announced December 2 it would expand its workforce development partnerships and programs with the ultimate goal of training 200,000 new workers in advanced manufacturing and the electrical trade by 2030. The German industrial company said it would do this by expanding its existing worker training programs in the power and manufacturing sectors. "In an era of unprecedented digital transformation, the future of American industry depends on a skilled and AI-enabled workforce," said Judith Wiese, Managing Board Member and Chief People & Sustainability Officer of Siemens AG. "That’s why Siemens is committed to creating accessible pathways for lifelong learning, helping individuals gain new skills or deepen their current expertise. By investing in talent and fostering continuous development, Siemens is ensuring today’s workforce remains adaptable and prepared for the future, creating enduring value for businesses, communities, and the economy.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry announced December 8 it would spend $4.2 million to support advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs as part of Gov. Shapiro’s state budget. In a statement, Pennsylvania L&I Secretary Nacy Walker called advanced manufacturing “the backbone of so many industries here in Pennsylvania” and said the money would fund access to quality careers. The money will go to workforce development boards, community colleges, and nonprofits throughout the state.

Gov. Laura Kelly of Kansas announced December 15 the state had awarded $535,000 in grants to 12 businesses for running registered apprenticeships. According to a state release, companies awarded grants included American Implement Inc. for establishing a youth tractor maintenance apprenticeship and Textron Aviation for airframe and power plant apprenticeships. The grants were complemented by additional locally-raised funds. According to David Toland, lieutenant governor of Kansas, the program managed to reach 1,056 employers using the apprenticeship system in 2025.

Southeast Guilford High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, announced it had raised $2.1 million to launch a new manufacturing academy, local news site ABC45 reported. The academy will be called Signature Career Academy and will offer college credits up to an associate’s degree, industry-recognized credentials, and workplace experiences like internships and apprenticeships. Funders for the project include the Guilford Merchant’s Association, The Brian Foundation, The Toyota USA Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Pennsylvania College of Technology will begin offering an Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship program for students in the Allentown School District near Pittsburgh. In a January 7 statement, the college said the partnership between Penn College Workforce Development and the area would consist of a four-month program for introducing students to “the foundational concepts of advanced manufacturing.” In a statement, Carol D. Birks, superintendent and CEO of the Allentown School District, said the program would support students moving in to in-demand careers in the rea, long a center of U.S. steel manufacturing.