MAMTC Newsletter - 9/18. The Impact of Manufacturing Day
The Impact of Manufacturing Day
A recent study by the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte revealed that more than 8 out of 10 Americans acknowledge the importance of the manufacturing industry but less than one-third of those surveyed would encourage their children to pursue a manufacturing career due to concerns around job security and stability, weak career paths, and poor pay. As anyone close to the modern manufacturing industry knows, these concerns couldn’t be further from reality!
- The average tenure of workers in the manufacturing industry is highest among all private sector industries at 9.1 years.
- Modern manufacturing also has one of the lowest employee turnover rates among all private-sector jobs at 2.3 percent.
- The average manufacturing worker in the U.S. earns almost $20,000 more than the average employee working in other industries.
This misconception about manufacturing will increasingly hurt the industry. By 2025, nearly 25 percent of the United States population is expected to be aged 60 or older, meaning many manufacturing workers will be leaving the factory floor. This makes attracting the next generation of workers critical to ensuring the industry remains vibrant. With these issues in mind, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Manufacturing Institute developed National Manufacturing Day.
It all began in 2012, with the goal of inspiring more people to pursue manufacturing careers. Designed to correct the misplaced notions about manufacturing, Manufacturing Day (MFG DAY) shows young people that the industry employs highly-skilled individuals while offering some of the most exciting, innovative work environments around.
Shifting Public Perception.
Is MFG DAY working? We can answer with a resounding yes! Deloitte, an MFG DAY sponsor since 2015, has been tracking reception toward the event, and the results are very encouraging. Focusing on students who have engaged in MFG DAY, the numbers are overwhelmingly positive:
- 88% found MFG DAY events interesting and engaging
- 89% became more aware of manufacturing jobs in their community
- 87% were convinced that manufacturing jobs were safe, clean, and high tech
- 84% believed that manufacturing jobs offered good pay
- 84% thought that manufacturing careers could be exciting and rewarding
- 71% planned to tell friends, family, or colleagues about careers in manufacturing
How Can You Help? Get Involved.
While many manufacturers develop their own MFG DAY plans, working with others can be beneficial.
- Collaboration. Most MFG DAY events are plant tours in which you open up your doors to an eager audience. However, if you’re in an industrial park and near other manufacturers, you may be able to collaborate to offer a “mini expo” of your manufacturing community.
- Education. Just because you’re not manufacturing doesn’t mean you can’t get involved! Many technical colleges hold educational fairs for their students and invite local manufacturers to set up booths or speak about their operations.
National Manufacturing Day will be observed Friday, October 5. It’s a celebration of the work we do, and gives science, technology, engineering, and math students insight into manufacturing today so they can help build the manufacturing world of tomorrow. Although, you don’t have to host an event on October 5. You can host a MFG DAY event any time in October. Or for that matter, any time throughout the year.
See who has gotten involved and learn more at
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