Skill up: Training a new generation for a career in manufacturing
It’s no secret that the manufacturing industry has a workforce problem. Despite continued growth in the sector, attracting and retaining the right workers is a concern that keeps many executives up at night. A recent report predicts that the manufacturing industry will need as many as 3.8 million new workers by 2033, but 1.9 million of those jobs could go unfilled. To combat this issue, manufacturers, industry organizations, and government officials at all levels are investing in education and training opportunities across the country. Here are a few examples of how industrial stakeholders are coming together to inspire, educate, and train the next generation of manufacturing workers.
MIT xPRO, in collaboration with Emeritus, has introduced a nine-month Global Manufacturing Leadership Program, which is engineered to give executives the skills they need to drive manufacturing excellence. The online program, which starts in June, offers practical insights from seasoned industry leaders. In a recent quote, John Carrier, Faculty Director Senior Lecturer of System Dynamics at the MIT Sloan School of Management, said, "MIT xPRO's Global Manufacturing Leadership Program is tailored to manufacturing leaders and is designed to empower them in making strategic decisions by effectively leveraging technology. Our goal is to help senior leaders navigate the changing manufacturing landscape efficiently and guide them towards operational excellence, yet never losing focus on their most important role – leading people."
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The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has awarded a $750,000 Drive for Five Workforce Initiative grant to the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence (Center) at Bemidji State University. The funding is part of a larger, $20 million initiative that hopes to train and place 1,200 individuals and benefit 3,000 businesses within 15 months. In a recent quote, Jeremy Leffelman, executive director of the Center, said, “The Center’s goal is to strengthen the connection between manufacturing and education. We are dedicated to helping people develop the skills and training needed for advanced manufacturing careers, ultimately leading to family-sustaining wages, gainful employment, and contributions to Minnesota’s economic vitality.”
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Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) and the Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center have partnered to train students for a career in manufacturing. The new AI-Enhanced Robotic Manufacturing Studio, located at the Georgia VECTR Center in Warner Robins, was made possible through the GA AIM (Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing) Coalition.
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Holyoke High School Dean Campus, located in Massachusetts, has introduced "Greater Holyoke Vocational Training After Dark." This program is designed to offer free specialized career and technical training for adults, with one track focusing on advanced manufacturing. This program offers students the opportunity to earn an Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing certificate from the school, along with OSHA-10 certification. In a recent quote, Dean CTE Director Joel McAuliffe said, “This initiative underscores Dean Tech’s commitment to broadening access to education and empowering individuals with the skills needed for career success in high-demand fields.”
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Rock Valley College, in partnership with McHenry County College and Highland Community College, has received a $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In total 41 community colleges across the country were given $65 million in federal grants to train students for a career in manufacturing. In a recent quote, Illinois governor JB Pritzker said, “The future of manufacturing is in Illinois. Thanks to this federal grant, Rock Valley College and its partners will provide stipends and train hundreds of students for in-demand, high-paying manufacturing jobs. This endeavor, along with the investments my administration has made, strategically expands the talent pipeline Illinois companies need to remain competitive globally. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
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About the Author
Alexis GajewskiAlexis Gajewski
Senior Content Strategist
Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.
During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry.
Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.
She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.
Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.
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