Perhaps, we also need to take a fresh perspective on the skills gap and lack of talent.Maybe, one of the answers to addressing this shortage lies less in finding the exact experience and manufacturing skills to fill specific roles, but more in adapting a flexible view of potential talent? Individuals who aren’t square pegs for square holes but bring transferrable skills from other industries, academic institutions and backgrounds as well as the aptitude to evolve and grow with their jobs. Doing this will help manufacturers begin the journey of transitioning their workplaces to ones that value forward thinking, engaging and digitally enabled work and that attract and retain this crucial talent. Let’s take a closer look.
Accelerating pace of change is creating a burning need for talent to keep up
One thing is certain: As manufacturing continues to evolve, so must its talent. By 2030, an estimated 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled if the skills gap is not adequately addressed.¹Manufacturers face a critical opportunity to close the skills gap, and they need to do so quickly.
In response to these developments, leaders consistently told us that they need a workforce with the agility to develop new capabilities as their organizations change and with the ability to respond to data-driven decisions, and redefined roles. Leaders also made an important connection that to successfully attract and retain today’s workforce there must be a win-win value proposition. Specifically, it is crucial for employers to invest in reskilling in the areas that benefit both the employees and employers while doing so through impactful experiences. Successfully creating this win-win value proposition will engage employees while accelerating learning to maximize business and employee outcomes.
While there were a number of ideas about how to achieve this, employers unanimously felt that a unique win-win opportunity to accelerate business and employee impact was through adaptive skills. Manufacturers know that they cannot remain competitive and future ready as the industry rapidly evolves without a workforce with adaptive skills.
