NEWS & EVENTS

Tooling U-SME Industry Pulse: 2018 Manufacturing Workforce Report

October 19, 2018

Key Findings

• The skills gap is a real threat to growth. Ignoring this challenge won’t make it disappear.
• Innovation through the integration and adoption of advanced technologies is at risk due to a lack of skilled workers to implement smart manufacturing and other new technologies, automation, cyber-security, and big data/analytics.
• Only two out of five companies (41%) agree that their company trains people to develop the right skills.
• Respondents blame lack of management commitment and resources such as funding, time, and training.
• Many actions companies can take to develop and retain employees are under their control, yet the majority of manufacturers are not taking these steps.
• Employers are feeling the impact of the workforce shortage. Fortunately, some are starting to invest in programs internally as well as in their local community employment pipelines.

Three of the top challenges companies face in the next three years revolve around developing a skilled workforce. And these challenges directly affect another top challenge: Expanding business, which nearly nine out of 10 (88%) manufacturers said is a top concern.

Manufacturers say their top workforce challenges are:

• FINDING SKILLED NEW HIRES 99%
• UP-SKILLING INCUMBENT WORKFORCE 92%
• ON BOARDING NEW EMPLOYEES 84%

For full Report: TU_SME_Industry_Pulse_Report_FINAL 101018