Manufacturing Industry

By: Ethan Schmidt

The manufacturing industry has hundreds of thousands of unfilled positions. There is a shortage of labor that needs to be filled. At the height of the housing crisis from 2007 to 2009, employment in the skilled trades has decreased by 13%. The industry eventually rebounded 6% from 2010 to 2012. The demand was projected to increase drastically in the next 15 years as over 77 million baby boomers retire from the workforce. Workers between the age of 45 and 54 make up 23% of the workforce.

Of course, times have changed drastically since the 1950s when unskilled workers performed over half of all manufacturing jobs. This dropped to 15 % in 2005. While the percentage reflects an evolving economy, it doesn't show the more important issues at hand. A talent shortage survey conducted in 2009 revealed the nation’s most sought-after workers. The top three slots went into electricians, carpenters, and welders.

Many people can begin a rewarding career in the skilled trades in a fraction of the time it takes to earn a traditional degree from a four-year university. You don't have to go to college as long. You will have less debt to pay off and you can start working more earlier. The opportunity is ripe to take advantage of trade school programs. An estimate of 3 million jobs in the US remains vacant, including over a half-million in manufacturing.