The first Friday in October is the day each year that the National Association of Manufacturers sets aside to promote the manufacturing industry to students, educators, future workers, and others.
The goal of the day is to spread the word about the health and diversity of the manufacturing industry, as well as to help manufacturers address their skilled labor shortage, connect with future generations, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry.
“Today’s manufacturing involves so much more than the assembly line,” NAM states. “There are lots of opportunities in engineering, IT, and sales and marketing,”
Advanced Manufacturing
One of the fastest-growing areas of manufacturing is advanced manufacturing. This term is used to describe manufacturing processes in specific industries such as aerospace, medical, pharmaceutical, that use advanced techniques and equipment, and require advanced skills from workers.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, advanced manufacturing companies are increasingly turning to apprenticeships to develop, grow, and retain their skilled workforce. Apprenticeship programs combine on-the-job learning with related instruction in technical areas to produce qualified, highly-productive employees for careers requiring precision skills. Apprenticeship training ensures workers have the knowledge and competencies companies need for today and tomorrow.
Learn more about the manufacturing industry as a whole from the USDOL’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, or explore the world of Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships at the USDOL’s Apprenticeship.gov website.
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