Millennials More Upbeat on Manufacturing’s Future
March 21 2017 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Increased optimism and changing perceptions
about the industry could help turn the tide on a nationwide skills
shortage
A more optimistic outlook among millennials about the future of
manufacturing could bode well for an industry that is contending
with an ongoing skills shortage.
This Smart News Release features multimedia.
View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170321006014/en/
A more optimistic outlook among
millennials about the future of manufacturing could bode well for
an industry that is contending with an ongoing skills shortage.
(Graphic: Proto Labs)
Nearly half of U.S. millennials (47 percent) think there will be
enough qualified professionals to fill manufacturing job demands in
the next 10 years, according to a survey by digital manufacturer
Proto Labs. That’s a marked increase from the only 35 percent of
Generation Xers and baby boomers who think the jobs demand will be
met.
The rosier outlook may be linked to millennials' changing
perceptions of manufacturing. According to the survey, 37 percent
of millennials see manufacturing as a high-tech career choice –
notably higher than both Generation Xers (27 percent) and baby
boomers (23 percent). Also, 49 percent of millennials believe
engineering is a needed skill in today’s manufacturing sector,
compared with only 41 percent of baby boomers.
Digital manufacturing has paved the way for a larger breadth of
opportunities in addition to the plant floor roles solely and
traditionally associated with the industry. Today, top
manufacturers must fill a range of skilled positions—from mold
techs, to applications engineers, to software developers. The
digitalization of the industry has transformed yesterday’s manual
nature of manufacturing to the high-tech environment it is today.
It is increasingly important for the manufacturing industry to
continue shifting its outdated public image, as, in the next
decade, it is estimated that 2 million out of the 3.5 million
manufacturing jobs will go unfilled due to talent shortages
(Deloitte).
“I expected to begin my career at what you might consider a
traditional technology company, like Facebook, Amazon or Uber,”
said Andrew Crocker, a 25-year-old software developer at Proto Labs
who joined the company straight out of college. “Manufacturing
wasn’t necessarily on my radar. But digital manufacturing has
changed everything. It’s created a high demand for skills like
mine, and it’s provided me a great career opportunity.”
Millennials Also More Optimistic on Manufacturing
Salaries
The financial benefit of a career in manufacturing is another
perception that’s changing among young people. According to the
survey, 40 percent of millennial respondents think a career in
today’s manufacturing industry is high-paying, compared with only
26 percent of Generation Xers. Indeed, the average U.S.
manufacturing worker makes more than $70,000 a year, according to
the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
“Digital manufacturing is revitalizing our industry and is
igniting new opportunities,” said Vicki Holt, president and CEO for
Proto Labs. “The skills gap presents a critical roadblock for all
of us. But it’s encouraging to see a renewed optimism from a new
generation of workers, and to hear that they understand this isn’t
their grandparents’ manufacturing industry. Much work remains ahead
of us, but this is a good start.”
About the survey
The public-opinion online poll was commissioned by Proto Labs
and conducted by ORC International’s CARVAN® Geographic Omnibus in
September 2016. It consisted of a sample of 1,023 adults comprising
512 men and 511 women, 18 years of age and older. The margin of
error is +/- 3.1 percentage points for the full sample.
About Proto Labs
Proto Labs is the world's fastest digital manufacturing source
for custom prototypes and low-volume production parts. The
technology-enabled company uses advanced 3D printing, CNC machining
and injection molding technologies to produce parts within days.
The result is an unprecedented speed-to-market value for designers
and engineers and an on-demand resource throughout a product’s life
cycle. Visit protolabs.com for more information.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170321006014/en/
Proto LabsSarah Ekenberg, 763-479-7560Public Relations
Manager, Proto Labssarah.ekenberg@protolabs.comorMedia
ContactPadilla for Proto LabsTim Nelson,
612-455-1789Tim.Nelson@PadillaCo.com
Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Proto Labs (NYSE:PRLB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024