Manufacturers Must Become More Modern and Flexible – Here’s Why

The end of extra unemployment benefits won’t solve the labor shortage—here’s what will

Manufacturers must adapt to offer a more modern and flexible work environment.

With the supplemental federal pandemic unemployment benefits now ended across the country, employers and lawmakers who favored the cut off are hoping their predictions come true: that ending the extra cash will drive those who have not returned to work will get back into the workforce. But for much of the country—half of all states—those benefits have long been over, and we’ve yet to see a rush back to work.

In manufacturing, the reality is that the labor shortage is nothing new—it’s been an ongoing issue for years with companies struggling to fill roles as manufacturing jobs fell out of vogue in the shift toward so-called “knowledge work.” But as crippling student debt prompts many young people to reconsider skilled trades in lieu of college, manufacturers have a ripe opportunity to capture new talent.

In order to do so, manufacturers must move away from the old-school status quo and adapt to offer a more modern and flexible work environment—one that’s attractive to a modern workforce.

In this article in Smart Industry Magazine, Shannon Gabriel, Director of Leadership Solutions at TBM Consulting Group, provides 3 tips for manufacturers to adapt to a more attractive and modern work environment.