Manufacturing is changing rapidly, requiring companies to adopt technology. Illinois has a thriving manufacturing environment ready for this new manufacturing world. Yet local manufacturers still face a labor shortage. Now amplified by digital demands.
US manufacturing may need to fill 2.4 million jobs by 2028, and up to half of those could go unfilled. As new roles and new ways of working come alongside that technology, filling this skills gap is more critical than ever.
Modern manufacturing demands operators who are confident with technology. The days when IT and engineers were the only ones regularly working with new systems are gone. For small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs), how well the workforce can use any technology investment is key to the returns and value it offers.
But if traditional recruitment can’t fill those skills gaps, what’s next? In this executive brief, IMEC looks at how SMMs can create structured workforce plans and upskilling routes to build their internal capabilities and stay competitive. We also look at how to bring technology and upskilling together to create a digital-ready, modern workforce that’s supported, agile, and confident for the future.
