As baby boomers have continued to retire in droves, the manufacturing industry has felt the brunt. Many companies have found it difficult to attract and retain talented young people to replace them. I think it comes down to two big issues:
- Manufacturers need a different type of person than they did decades ago. It’s not enough for a worker to be good with their hands; they also need to be comfortable with automation and robotics, which requires training that most schools haven’t been providing until very recently.
- Younger workers understand that lifetime employment no longer exists, and they don’t want to end up laid off and unemployable. They want jobs that will keep them engaged and give them the chance to grow their skillsets, so that when they do need to move on, they’ll be equipped to land on their feet.
It’s not that “no one wants to work anymore.” It’s that no one is willing to put up with a miserable work experience anymore. They’ll jump ship the second they find something better—so you need to ensure that your ship doesn’t make people want to jump.
Read my recent interview with Lift & Secure for more of my thoughts on the new realities of talent management.
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