Why MFG Day Matters

Why MFG Day Matters

This month, more than 2,400 manufacturers across the country opened their doors and showcased the great products made right here in America.  Why is this activity important?  Manufacturing makes America strong. 

  • For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.37 is added to the economy, the highest multiplier effect of any economic sector.
  • Manufacturing supports an estimated 6 million jobs in the United States—about one in six private-sector jobs.
  • More than 12 million Americans (or 9 percent of the workforce) are employed directly in manufacturing.
  • Manufacturers in the United States perform more than three-quarters of all private-sector R&D in the nation, driving more innovation than any other sector.

Over the next decade nearly 3 ½ million manufacturing jobs likely need to be filled. The skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of those jobs going unfilled.  Contributing to this challenge is the general perception of manufacturing careers.  Only 3 out of 10 parents would encourage their children into manufacturing.  

How do we reach the next generation?

There is such a wealth of information available to kids today; what is it that most influences the future direction and career choices of high school students? There are guidance counselors, whose job description is to advise students. There are parents, whose advice teenagers ignore more often than not. And there are peers, which in the age of social media, many believe are the greatest priority of and have the most influence over students. But as the parent of any teenager can attest, they are their own person.

In a new report, Attracting the Next Generation Workforce, published by The Manufacturing Institute, SkillsUSA and the Educational Research Center of America , we see the importance of activities like Manufacturing Day. 

A large majority of high school students (64%) report that the greatest influence on their future careers is their own experiences and interests. This is followed by their father and mother (22% and 19% respectively) and their teachers (11%). Interestingly, some of the least important influences were places where they seemingly spend the most time, social and other media (4% and 3% respectively). And finally, in a signal that perhaps college and career counseling services need to be rethought, guidance counselors are the least important influence on a student’s career choice (3%).

Knowing that personal experience plays such a big role in the career decisions of the next generation, The Manufacturing Institute is a proud co-producer of National Manufacturing Day and runs a student engagement program called Dream It. Do It. Dream It. Do It. works to change the perception of the industry and inspire next-generation workers to pursue manufacturing careers by providing real-world manufacturing experiences.

So the challenge is clear to our nation’s manufactures - engage: offer students greater opportunities to experience manufacturing and develop a familiarity with the industry.

Gene Sherman

Educator, Maker, Entrepreneur, & Author. @GeneticMaker

8y

We have had MFG DAY events at VOCADEMY - The Makerspace for the past two years. We will keep doing them forever. It is one of the best ways to show students the many opportunities in the world of "making things."

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George Newman

Manufacturing Workforce Consultant

8y

Don't underestimate the influence of parents and counselors, two groups that know very little about the great careers in manufacturing. Reaching them is a bigger challenge than the students.

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Debbie Williamson

Excellent 28+ year track record and accomplishments in the Manufacturing Industry

8y

John, you make a great point. We need to somehow, get back to doing it in the U.S.A. Companies here can't continue to lose money and people here for sending projects overseas. People here want their jobs. Companies, need to realize that the re-work cost more than trying to save money.

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John Groth

CEO, Groth Manufacturing

8y

Only issue is in Illinois I lost 60% of my sale to China last year and most shops are having a hard time because of this. We need to tax every item coming in from there to level the playing field.

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Ed Garner

Senior Vice President at Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Company

8y

Well put Jennifer!

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