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.
The University of Maine has begun construction on its Green Engineering and Materials (GEM) building. The 50,000-square-foot facility incorporates digital manufacturing technologies and fully adaptive, immersive learning spaces for students at UMaine and across the University of Maine System. The $82 million project is designed to meet the research and education needs in advanced manufacturing, as well as train the engineering and computing workforce. In a recent quote, Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of UMaine and its regional campus, the University of Maine at Machias, said, “This project started as an ambitious vision, and it is becoming a reality thanks to interdisciplinary collaboration and a vision that integrates research and learning. We are grateful for all who have made this investment in this public university research facility.
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The Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) Initiative’s Accelerated Training Industry Partnership has officially launched at Macomb Community College. The Navy invested $15.4 million into the college to help create a maritime skilled trades training center. The money will also be used to fund the training for 384 individuals through early 2027. In a recent quote, James O. Sawyer IV, president, Macomb Community College, said, “Our partnership with the Navy provides residents with the opportunity to complete free training that will qualify them for rewarding, well-paying and in-demand jobs right here in metro Detroit. The effort will also help develop a deep talent pool for our local defense contractors, sustaining and growing local industry, while supporting critical national security needs.”
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County College of Morris (CCM) has introduced a new Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Apprenticeship program. The college partnered with CMC Steel and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) to create the program, which will take an apprentice approximately 4,000 hours or two years to complete. Students completing the program will receive the Journeyworker designation. In a recent quote, Dr. Anthony Iacono, president of CCM, said, “Partnerships help us to thrive, and we’re honored to partner with CMC Steel and the NJDOL. Manufacturing is one of NJ’s largest and most important industries, and our Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center (AMEC) was built to address the need of ensuring that manufacturers across the state will be provided with a steady pipeline of highly skilled individuals. Partnerships like this support our mission of changing lives and strengthening communities.”
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Illinois has been awarded $2 million in federal grant funding for the Smart Manufacturing Lighthouse Program (SMLP). The funding will be provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains' (MESC) State Manufacturing Leadership Program. As part of the program, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will provide resources, outreach, technical assistance, financial assistance, or workforce and training support to small- and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs). In a recent quote, Governor JB Pritzker said, "Manufacturing is at the heart of our state's economic strength, and this new federal funding will help us take it to the next level. By equipping small and medium-sized manufacturers with smart manufacturing technologies, we're accelerating innovation and driving progress toward a clean energy economy - while ensuring no community is left behind. I am deeply thankful to our federal partners for recognizing the importance of this work and supporting Illinois' next chapter of innovation and sustainability in manufacturing."
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NASA has invested $1.5 million into Auburn University’s Space Manufacturing Initiative. The program will focus on a circular manufacturing ecosystem where local resources can be reused for manufacturing new parts and systems on demand. In a recent quote, Masoud Mahjouri-Samani, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, said, “The scarcity of resources in space, the microgravity environment and the high cost of transporting materials create challenges. Scarcity of resources in space limits the use of current manufacturing technologies. Properly disposing of the out-of-mission and scrap parts in space is also a huge issue. These challenges demand manufacturing technologies that operate in space environments and, most importantly, can reuse and recycle the available resources.”
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Mississippi State University and East Mississippi Community College have joined together to create the MSU at the Communiversity partnership through the Advancements in Manufacturing Upskilling Program (AiM UP). The program is designed to help equip Mississippi’s workforce with critical skills identified by manufacturing employer partners across the state. In a recent quote, Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum said, “The Communiversity is the perfect example of teamwork, and we’re proud to be here as the higher education partner. The Communiversity is focused on giving students and workers the skills and training they need to compete and succeed in the 21st Century marketplace. We’re working together at the Communiversity so companies will continue to create next-gen jobs in our state and more Mississippians will be ready to fill these jobs of the future.”
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