President at Bishop-Wisecarver, leveraging 70+ years of success to deliver innovative motion solutions for customers worldwide.
Tech jobs are on the rise. According to a recent study by Indeed.com, 11 of the best 25 jobs in 2023 are tech positions, representing a nearly 20% increase from last year alone. No one can deny technology brings a sense of adventure and passion with incredible innovations However, you don’t have to “work in tech” to have a tech job. The opportunities to work with cutting-edge technologies are in the manufacturing industry. It’s true.
This is one of the best-kept secrets because most people still think of manufacturing as repetitive, boring, uninspiring work that happens in a dark and dirty factory. That is totally not the reality of modern-day manufacturing, and it is a personal crusade of mine to make sure people know the truth. In my opinion, manufacturing is one of the best places to look for a job in technology and one of the best places to look for a job, period. My wish is that this article can change not only your perceptions but possibly your own career path or those in your sphere of influence toward a role in the future of manufacturing.
Robotics, artificial intelligence, 3-D printing and virtual reality are a few of the advanced technologies utilized in modern manufacturing and require workers who can leverage and hone their technology skills. And let’s not forget about the data. With all the sensors and connectivity on our production floors, the need for data scientists has exploded. Manufacturing thrives on efficiencies, and now we have more data than ever to help us innovate how we do business.
According to the National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. manufacturing workers earned $95,990 on average in 2021, including pay and benefits. High percentages of manufacturers qualify for health benefits provided by their employers. In fact, 91% of manufacturing employees were eligible for health insurance benefits in 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. This is significantly higher than the 78% average for all firms.
We’ve all been hearing about the layoffs in the tech industry. Just look at Amazon, who announced in April 2023 the largest layoffs in the company’s history. Now, let’s look at the manufacturing industry. Not only were there 694,000 job openings this past February 2023, but according to the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, the manufacturing industry will also need 4 million jobs by 2030. This is a booming, thriving industry that is ripe with opportunities. Unfortunately, the same report states that 2.1 million of these jobs could go unfilled if we do not encourage the pursuit of modern manufacturing careers.
Manufacturing in the U.S. is the 8th largest economy in the world. In the 4th quarter of 2022 alone, manufacturers contributed $2.9 trillion to the annual rate of the U.S. economy. Being part of this industry means that you can play a vital role in helping to fuel our economic growth that benefits everyone.
In 2020, there were 239,524 firms in the manufacturing sector, with all but 4,024 firms considered to be small (i.e., having fewer than 500 employees). Working for a small company has many benefits, with one of the best ones being that you become a valued and known employee–not just a number. For instance, at my company, with under 100 employees, I believe we are the right size where good work gets noticed, advancements are encouraged, and I personally make it a priority to get to know as many employees as I can through town hall meetings, one-on-ones, trainings and company events.
Manufacturing is all about innovation—it’s what we do all day, every day. We invent things, we make things work better, and we bring new products to market. For someone looking for personal development opportunities and a chance to make a difference—this is the place to be. Staying relevant as a U.S. manufacturer means consistently investing in the education of our teams. I talk to my team members all the time, and they say they love taking their education and training and making a difference by creating something new to solve a customer’s problem.
Manufacturing can be a great option for those looking to leverage their love of technology with a high-tech experience. Knowing the technical aspects of manufacturing is the first step. From here, research different companies and review the technical jobs you find most interesting. Are you the big-picture visionary idea developer or the hands-on make-it-happen creator? Do you need some additional schooling to get into the area of manufacturing that is most interesting? Do you want to work for a larger corporation or one of the majority of smaller manufacturing companies? Where do you want to use your skills and passion to be innovative and make a difference? Medical? Space? Agriculture?
There are many companies in this space, including mine, investing enormous amounts of time and money promoting STEM careers both in local communities and through national programs. Consider joining some of those to get first-hand experience and insight. Are you considering making a move from a current position? There are a number of workforce development programs in communities throughout the U.S. that can help you leverage your skills and bring them into manufacturing.
When more people envision themselves in a manufacturing company because they see the opportunity that path can provide long term, the closer we might get to filling the four million high-tech jobs we’ll be needing in manufacturing this next decade.
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