Advanced Manufacturing

 

In recent years Manufacturing jobs in the Alamo region have been growing despite a national decline. In fact, Manufacturing employment increased 8.13% from February 2005 through February 2007.

In its 2004-2014 Employment Projections, the Texas Workforce Commission projects that in the Alamo region:

 

	The demand for manufacturing workers will continue to grow by 17.8% during the ten-year period.
	Many “high-skill” manufacturing jobs are projected to grow faster than the overall job market.
	Job losses in Manufacturing will be concentrated among “low-skill” occupations

But despite the growth of opportunities, Manufacturing training programs at the secondary and post-secondary levels are operating under capacity in the Alamo region, and are not generating sufficient workers to help the industry expand or to replace the industry’s retiring “skilled” labor force.

And, in the next 20 years all major industries face a looming labor shortage. In the Alamo region, Manufacturing will have to compete with Health Care, Bioscience, Financial Services, Aerospace, Construction, and IT/Telecom to attract and retain skilled workers.

THE PERCEPTION…
Youth think Manufacturing jobs are grimy, sweaty, hard physical labor, and loud assembly line jobs. They do not see them as attractive careers.

Parents think Manufacturing jobs are low paying, insecure, and would not encourage their children to pursue a career in the industry.

THE ACTION…
In order to ensure that Manufacturers maintain a quality labor pool that will allow the industry to continue to grow, the Manufacturing community must communicate to the future workforce and their parents that:

	“You can make really good money in a manufacturing career!”
	“Manufacturing in the Alamo region has met the 21st century and includes a lot of cool jobs, from building trucks using robots to producing prescription medicines to making microchips that power computers, phones and games.”
	“Successful manufacturing careers are available to hard-working dedicated people who may or may not have a college degree.”