Filling today’s manufacturing roles while preparing for tomorrow strengthens business success. Hiring employees willing to upskill and reskill positions your factory for growth.
Emphasizing technology-based careers, prioritizing flexibility, and offering manufacturing internships help fill today’s roles and tomorrow’s business needs. Strengthening wage transparency, updating job postings, and providing engaging training also help.
Emphasize Technology-Based Manufacturing Careers
Younger generations are attracted to careers involving emerging technology. Therefore, emphasizing roles involving cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, 3D printing, and digital twins encourages millennials and Gen Z to pursue these opportunities.
Prioritize Flexibility
Remote or hybrid work arrangements and a flexible schedule attract talent to manufacturing roles. Other examples of flexibility include:
- First-shift employees choose a start time between 6 am and 8 am to finish work early or handle personal responsibilities.
- Employees swap shifts with manager approval to accommodate personal needs.
- Rotating shifts that begin or end at certain times and differ in duration to attract parents with family responsibilities, retirees who desire additional income, and gig workers who desire reliable income.
- Diverse workweek setups, such as three 12-hour or four 10-hour days, provide additional days off.
- Creative job sharing where two or three employees collaborate to fill a full-time role.
Offer Manufacturing Internships
Extending manufacturing internships to high school students and adults impacts industry perceptions and attracts talent. Providing in-class learning and hands-on training supports knowledge and skill development. Apprentices who complete their programs typically pursue careers within the organization.
Strengthen Wage Transparency
Many employees desire competitive income and benefits to accommodate inflationary pressures and rising living costs. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, manufacturing employees’ seasonally adjusted average annual earnings were approximately $72,446 in March 2025. Strengthening wage transparency and emphasizing competitive compensation in job postings encourages qualified applications.
Update Job Postings
Provide detailed information about competitive income and benefits, a flexible work schedule, the use of emerging technologies, and career opportunities in job postings. Increased transparency strengthens trust among job seekers, encouraging qualified applications.
Interact on Social Media
Highlight your manufacturing firm’s culture, work environment, and job openings on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube. Include employee stories, testimonials, photos, and videos to show what a day in the factory is like. Regularly posting on social media lets you build brand awareness, engage with job seekers, and attract qualified talent.
Provide Engaging Training
Implementing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in onboarding and training sessions strengthens engagement. Practicing job-related tasks in a virtual setting increases safety, efficiency, and retention. Ongoing training opportunities support career advancement.
Get Help with Manufacturing Hiring
Reach out to Connectology to discuss your manufacturing hiring needs today.
