How to deal with the gender gap in manufacturing
Posted May 19th, 2014
The US economy is dependent upon manufacturing jobs. As weird as that may seem — with all the talk of America being an “information economy” — it is true. Every dollar sold within the manufacturing space has an almost 150% impact on the US economy. However, the sector struggles to find workers who are even interested in available jobs.
Women need to be brought into the workforce. In the same way that many countries struggle with economic growth — because they limit opportunities for women — the manufacturing sector is struggling from the same dynamics…not because they limit opportunities but because they suffer from an image problem. No industry can thrive economically unless it creates the largest talent pool possible. To create this talent pool, requires representatives from both genders.
As stated above, the manufacturing sector needs to change its image. The sector is changing and redefining itself, but this “new and improved” perception is not reaching the workers of today (or even tomorrow). For example, the sector needs to stop being viewed as:
- Being a “male-favored” industry. When most people think “manufacturing”, they think of an assembly line at a Ford automobile plant or of the big vat of molten steel at US Steel. These pictures evoke thoughts of dirtiness, overbearing heat and (quite frankly) brute strength. The sector is in need of a drastic makeover, because it is no longer about manual labor. It is about STEM (Science-technology-engineering-math). The skills that are required today are vastly different. Understanding robotics, 3D printing, laser cutting, computer aided design (CAD) or even being Six Sigma certified are now the norm. It really is not a ”blue-collar”/”white-collar” world anymore. It is a STEM-world.
- Provide more work/life balance. There is a huge perception that the manufacturing sector is rigidly “shift-oriented”. Workers have to come in, work their 8 hours, and leave. This can be a huge turn-off for many woman (and men for that matter). Providing scheduling flexibility is possible, whether it means lengthening shifts in order to provide extra days off or simply allowing workers to have input into their own schedules.
To close the skills gap, manufacturers need to revamp their image. The image of dirtiness and brute strength needs to be eradicated. Educational awareness and career preparation opportunities need to be made available, either through high school prep programs or through apprenticeship programs offered directly by manufacturers or through certification programs through the community college system. The key is to open doors and to provide a roadmap to another career path. An active role in attracting, training and continuous development is key.
To close your skills gap, it helps to have a valuable partner for your manufacturing hiring needs. When you need to find qualified manufacturing workers, call the experts at Bayside Solutions. We have been helping Bay Area manufacturers find the highly skilled STEM workers they need to grow their business.
If you are looking for manufacturing recruiters in the Bay Area, contact us today.
