Closing Manufacturing’s Labor Gap Through IT Consolidation

The current labor shortage in manufacturing shows no signs of going away for the foreseeable future. An oft-cited stat from the report by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute is jarring: If the status quo continues, by the year 2033, 1.9 million manufacturing jobs will remain unfilled. 

There are multiple factors contributing to manufacturing’s labor shortage issue. Among the top reasons is a retiring workforce that isn’t adequately being replaced.

As the next generation moves into the workforce, many point to automation as a deterrent for entering the industry, fearing job obsolescence. Automation, however, is a double-edge sword, capable of accelerating production and reducing the need for humans on the shop floor, yet also creating new opportunities, especially since many manufacturers have a long way to go on their digital transformation. 

As they seek to close the labor gap and use automation to increase productivity, manufacturers are leaning into technology.

Manufacturers are raising the stakes when it comes to recruitment efforts. According to a recent survey of more than 500 manufacturers, 57% are offerin…