Study: Skills Gap In U.S. Manufacturing Not So Severe
The skills gap in manufacturing isn't as bad as generally believed, according to a new study by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
According to the firm, the United States is short 80,000 to 100,000 highly skilled manufacturing workers, representing less than 1 percent of the country's 11.5-million manufacturing workers and less than 8 percent of its 1.4-million highly skilled manufacturing workers.
The study also found that only seven states show significant skills gaps. Six of those states are in the bottom quartile of the country's manufacturing output.
"Shortages of highly skilled manufacturing workers exist and must be addressed, but the numbers aren't as bad as many believe," said Harold L. Sirkin, a BCG senior partner and coauthor of the research. "The problem is very localized. It's much less of an issue in larger communities, where supply and demand evens out more efficiently thanks to the bigger pool of workers."
According to BCG, 37 percent of manufacturing executives surveyed whose companies had moved manufacturing operations to the U.S. from other countries cited better access to skilled workforce or talent as a major factor in their decision.
Although the shortage may not be as severe as many believe, BCG said it could worsen and cited the average age of a highly skilled manufacturing worker (56), increased export demand and the return of manufacturers to the U.S.
BCG said that in order to keep the industry on track for "a manufacturing renaissance by 2020," awareness must increase, and more efforts must be made by manufactures to recruit talent.
"The good news is, a wide array of programs already exist in which schools, companies, governments and nonprofits are working together to address these needs," said Michael Zinser, a BCG partner who leads the firm's manufacturing practice in the Americas. "In the years ahead, it will be critical to find ways to extend these programs to reach a broader population."
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