Reinventing Manufacturing

Strengthening California’s Environment for Manufacturing
Grow the Talent Base for
Advanced Manufacturing
The manufacturing sector faces a growing talent gap
that could stall its growth. As technological improvements
have changed the landscape of industry in the
US, manufacturing jobs have shifted from low-skill
assembly line positions to more advanced production
roles, such as machinists, tool and die makers, robotics
operators, and technicians. Also growing in concentration
in manufacturing are PhD scientists in such fields as
advanced materials, chemistry, biotechnology, and physics.
While these jobs have all evolved, the educational
systems that train workers in the skills for advanced
manufacturing have shifted at a slower pace.
In a 2011 Deloitte survey of manufacturers, 74 percent
of respondents indicated that workforce shortages or
skill deficiencies in production roles were having an
impact on their ability to expand operations or improve
productivity. In some cases, the loss of manufacturing
activities has eroded the technical skills base, pushing
manufacturers to locate in other locales.
The skills gap in manufacturing is also generational. As
companies shifted production abroad, manufacturing
trades became less attractive to students. To highlight
this gap, the American Welding Society estimates
that the average age of the American welder is 55. 27
As these workers approach retirement, a new generation
of workers will be needed to replace them on the
production floor. However, many younger workers lack
the skills necessary to be successful in the advanced
manufacturing economy. Given a weak pipeline of
manufacturing talent, manufacturers have cited a need
to interview more candidates in order to find qualified
individuals, and a lack of basic familiarity with precision
manufacturing tools among new hires has increased
turnover. 28 This problem will worsen as large numbers
of highly experienced workers near retirement.
California Initiatives to Match Training with the
Needs of Employers in Manufacturing
Of the $4.3 billion spent annually by the federal government
on technology-oriented education and training,
only one-fifth goes toward programs supporting
vocational and community college training programs. 29
Given this level of national funding, California workforce
programs for manufacturing have been centered on
better utilization of the community college system to
place students on career paths in manufacturing.
Under the California Community Colleges Economic
and Workforce Development Program, industry-specific
workforce services are coordinated by regional Deputy
Sector Navigators who align community college and
other workforce development resources with the needs
of industry sectors. Advanced manufacturing is one of
10 priority areas under the program, with goals that
include identifying and filling gaps in community college
curricula with the help of industry partners and attracting
more students to career paths in manufacturing and
other technical areas.
The Career Technical Education Pathways Initiative aims
to engage learning institutions at all levels in improving
linkages, increasing readiness of secondary students
for postsecondary education, and increasing student
success and training in postsecondary education. Grants
provided through the program help in the development
of local and regional career technical education pathway
systems. For example, the Bay Area Community
College Consortium is developing new curricula with
eight colleges and 28 manufacturing industry partners
to strengthen the alignment of training programs with
regional industry needs. It has also created work-based
learning opportunities at six Bay Area companies. 30
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