Attracting the Next Generation: Manufacturing Careers for Millennials and Gen Z

Attracting the next generation of manufacturing workers is essential for business growth. As a result, millennials and Gen Z are being encouraged to build manufacturing careers.

Manufacturing employers must provide competitive compensation, flexibility, meaningful work, caring leadership, and career advancement opportunities to attract the next generation. These factors encourage millennials and Gen Z to build manufacturing careers.

Implement these tips to encourage millennials and Gen Z to build manufacturing careers.

 

Understand What the Next Generation Wants from a Career

Millennials and Gen Z prioritize income, security, and opportunities to make a difference when establishing a career. Therefore, manufacturing firms that offer what the next generation desires can attract and keep millennial and Gen Z employees.

A 2023 McKinsey & Company study uncovered the importance of compensation, security, and opportunities for Gen Z to make a difference when taking, keeping, or leaving a manufacturing job:

Compensation

  • Gen Z placed compensation as the sixth of 12 factors that impact where they take a job.
  • Compensation ranked eighth of 12 in importance for staying in a job.
  • Gen Z ranked compensation as the third of 12 factors that impact whether they leave a job.

Security  

  • Physical and psychological safety ranked third of 12 in importance for staying in a job.
  • Gen Z wants to feel safe and respected when learning, developing their skills, and making mistakes.
  • Manufacturing employers should provide psychological safety among the workforce to attract and retain the next generation of employees.

Opportunities to make a difference

  • Meaningful work placed second of 12 in importance for taking, staying in, or leaving a job.
  • Reliable coworkers, workplace flexibility, and lack of career advancement ranked as the top reasons why Gen Z take, stay in, or leave a job.
  • Manufacturing employers who offer meaningful work can attract and retain millennial and Gen Z employees.

Methods to Attract Millennials and Gen Z to Manufacturing Careers

You can choose among these methods to attract the next generation to manufacturing careers:

Offer flexibility, connectivity, and meaning

The McKinsey & Company study found that workplace flexibility, relationships with coworkers, and opportunities to perform meaningful work were among the top reasons why Gen Z decided to take a manufacturing job. These factors were more important than compensation when attracting the next generation to manufacturing careers.

Encourage engagement

Because millennials and Gen Z grew up using technology to answer questions, they are likely to use self-help videos to solve problems.  Therefore, these generations might be uncomfortable asking coworkers for advice and help. As a result, manufacturing employers must implement methods for employees to develop their skills while building teammate and coworker relationships.

Strengthen retention

The McKinsey and Company survey found that 48% of Gen Z respondents intended to leave their manufacturing jobs within the next 3-6 months. The top reason was a lack of career advancement.

A growing loss of talent increases hiring, onboarding, and training costs. As a result, managers should meet with each employee to discuss their career goals and map a path to advance within the organization. Include the criteria, resources, guidance, and support needed to advance to the next level. These activities support employee retention.

Get Help Attracting the Next Generation of Manufacturing Professionals

Connectology is actively working to attract and retain the next generation to ensure a vibrant future for the manufacturing industry. Contact us to learn more today.