Manufacturing powers the world around us. Yet despite its impact, the industry hasn’t always done the best job telling its own story. Not enough young people are considering how beneficial a manufacturing career can be in bolstering their futures, and that disconnect is costing the industry new talent.
It’s time for us to change that narrative.
Manufacturing Is More Than Making Parts
For a lot of people who aren’t familiar with our industry, they picture manufacturing as standing next to a machine all day, pushing buttons, and watching parts come off the line. But that’s not an accurate look at today’s machine shop.
Behind every precision component is a real-world outcome. Parts made in a modern CNC machine shop support life-saving medical devices, commercial aircraft, life-saving defense systems, and even space exploration. When people understand what they’re building and why it matters, the work becomes meaningful.
That sense of purpose is a powerful reason people choose a manufacturing career and stay in it.
A High-Tech and Evolving Industry
There’s still a stigma that machine shops are dark, dirty, and outdated. In reality, contract manufacturing facilities are clean, organized, well-lit, and filled with cutting-edge equipment. Advanced tooling and digital, automated workflows are now standard.
Nowadays, a typical CNC business leverages a continuous improvement mindset. Processes evolve constantly as shops seek new ways to increase production and improve quality. No two days are the same, and that makes for an exciting and fulfilling work environment!
Multiple Career Pathways
One of the strongest advantages of a manufacturing career is stability. The need for products will never go away; what changes is how those products are made, and that creates opportunity for human innovation.
Manufacturing offers a truly multifaceted career path. Best of all, someone can start in one path and, through upskilling and hands-on experience, pivot to different areas within the field. Here are some of the most common career pathways within a machine shop setting:
- Machinists
- Programmers
- Inspectors and quality professionals
- Engineers
- Customer service
- Machine shop management
- Owners
Education Without the Debt
Many people grew up under the impression that a four-year degree was necessary for a successful career. However, we’ve noticed that more and more schools are emphasizing the importance of careers in the trades. These jobs don’t require individuals to go tens of thousands of dollars in debt for a degree they may or may not use. As representatives of the manufacturing sector, we’d like to support that message.
Teenagers can graduate from high school and immediately begin working as a machinist, earning a livable wage without accruing any debt. In fact, many shops directly invest in their people’s education, covering the costs of training, certifications, and even degree programs.
Through NTMA-U, individuals can enter apprenticeship programs and become journeymen. By pairing structured learning opportunities with hands-on experience in a shop, those new to manufacturing can steadily increase their earning potential without taking on student debt.
What Shops Can Do to Attract the Next Generation
Individuals in the manufacturing sector know firsthand how rewarding and impactful their work is. But many young people don’t know that these opportunities exist for them. In many cases, new talent isn’t simply going to come to you; that’s why machine shop decision-makers need to go to them, communicating what makes this industry so special.
Show, don’t tell
An article like this might be appealing to young job-seekers looking for a stable and lucrative career path, but what really makes an impact is when they can see a job shop environment for themselves. Hosting open houses and inviting local schools for shop tours can spark interest in ways words alone can’t. Seeing a clean, high-tech shop in action allows young people to connect the dots and visualize themselves in that work setting.
Share your story
Everyone in manufacturing has a story. Whether they grew up working for their family business or stumbled upon the industry by accident, those stories matter. They humanize the work and show there’s no single path into a manufacturing career.
Lean into your NTMA community
We talk to machine shops all the time that are actively taking steps to attract young people to their workforce. If you’re seeking ideas, don’t hesitate to engage with the NTMA Connect community to learn practices directly from peers who have been in your shoes. You’ll never know what insights you might glean unless you ask!
Not a member yet? Join the NTMA community to take advantage of our resources that support bringing on the next generation of manufacturing professionals!