Manufacturing Day 2018 to Focus on Biggest Problem Manufacturers Face: A Shortage of Skilled Workers

Planned manufacturing events for Oct. 5, 2018, on track to set record-breaking level of participation

Published: Monday, May 14, 2018 - 11:02

(Manufacturing Institute: Washington, D.C.) -- The National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM) Manufacturing Institute has announced that Manufacturing Day (MFG) 2018 will occur on Friday, October 5, with a record-breaking turnout expected. This year, MFG Day will focus on one of the biggest problems manufacturers face—a shortage of skilled workers.

MFG Day goes a long way to inspire the next generation to pursue rewarding manufacturing careers. With more than 3,000 events held in 2017, MFG Day celebrates modern manufacturing as manufacturers across the country open their doors to students, parents, and teachers with the goal of strengthening the public perception of modern manufacturing.

“Manufacturing offers many promising career options for the next generation—often without the financial burdens of college debt—and these well-paying jobs are in an industry that is modern, optimistic and growing,” says Carolyn Lee, executive director of The Manufacturing Institute. “Yet, too often, the very talented younger Americans who could make the most of these careers either don’t know they exist or have the wrong idea about what a career in modern manufacturing might look like. That’s why we organize MFG Day events across the country—to inspire the next generation of manufacturers so that they can gain access to the fulfilling careers they deserve, and to help manufacturers fill the more than 391,000 open jobs in manufacturing today.”

Following the enactment of the historic tax reform bill, the NAM’s 2018 first quarter Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey revealed that 93.5 percent of manufacturers have a positive economic outlook—the second-highest optimism level in the survey’s 20-year history. At the same time, for the second consecutive survey, manufacturers cited the inability to attract and retain a quality workforce as their top business challenge.

Learn more about MFG Day at www.mfgday.com.

Manufacturing Day is modern manufacturing’s biggest stage. Each year, on the first Friday in October, more than 3,000 schools and manufacturers will open their doors and unveil the opportunities that lie beyond them to more than 600,000 parents, students, educators and other interested individuals to showcase modern manufacturing. Help manufacturing build the next generation talent pipeline, host an event. Visit MFGDay.com for more information.

About The Author

Manufacturing Institute

The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501 (c) 3 affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a nonpartisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation’s manufacturers. The Institute focuses on developing human capital strategies through education reform and workforce development, conducting applied research to provide critical information to public policy makers on challenges and opportunities for today’s industry, and advancing the innovation capacity of manufacturers operating in a global market.