Research shows Manufacturing Day events foster positive perceptions of industry

Oct. 7 marks the fifth annual Manufacturing Day^SM, when thousands of manufacturers will again host students, teachers, parents, job seekers, and community leaders at open houses, plant tours, and educational sessions to showcase modern manufacturing technology and available jobs. It is a chance for students to see the diverse career options in manufacturing.

Manufacturing Day was created in response to a dire need in the U.S.: The industry today faces a major shortage of skilled workers. An estimated 2 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled over the next decade because of companies' inability to find talent with the required skills.

Participation grows every year. In 2015 more than 2,600 live events were attended by more than 225,000 students and 55,000 parents, educators, and job seekers.

Polling of Manufacturing Day participants revealed the following results:

81 percent of student respondents are more convinced manufacturing provides careers that are both interesting and rewarding.
• 71 percent of student respondents are more likely to tell friends, family, parents, or colleagues about manufacturing.
• 93 percent of educators are more convinced manufacturing provides careers that are interesting and rewarding.
• 90 percent of educators indicated they are more likely to encourage students to pursue a career in manufacturing.

According to Deloitte’s current Skills Gap report, “Those with high industry familiarity tend to have more favorable perceptions, and they are twice as likely as those with no familiarity to encourage their children to pursue a manufacturing career.”

This data aligns with a study done in collaboration with Skills USA, Educational Research of America, and The Manufacturing Institute, which found that 64 percent of students identified personal experiences as having the greatest influence over their career decisions.

Co-producers of Manufacturing Day are Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl. (FMA), the Manufacturing Institute, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

For more information on Manufacturing Day 2016, visit www.mfgday.com.