Between the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing trade wars being waged by the Trump administration via tariffs, the importance of manufacturing in the United States has once again taken center stage. To keep up with domestic demand for things like high-tech semiconductors, it’s more important than ever that as many things as possible be made in America.
Reshoring manufacturing to the U.S. is easier said than done, though, as many manufacturers are finding out. Not only does it take a tremendous amount of capital to build new facilities in the U.S., but manufacturers also find that there simply aren’t enough highly skilled workers to fill the thousands of new positions that would be created.
This is not a new problem. For years, manufacturers have struggled to fill open positions. During any particular month within the past several years, there can be as many as 500,000 open positions in manufacturing throughout the U.S.
What’s going on? Experts call this problem the “skills gap,” because the bottom line is that there simply aren’t enough highly skilled workers to meet the demand for these workers. Not only has the talent pipeline of trade workers failed to maintain a consistent, steady supply of highly skilled workers, but demand for these workers has also risen significantly because of the implementation of advanced automation technologies by manufacturers.
Government leaders at the local, state, and federal level have tried for years to increase the supply of skilled workers through a variety of means, from increased funding for training and apprenticeships to campaigns to educate students about the good careers available in modern manufacturing. Now, private investors are also getting on board to ensure the availability of skilled workers to help build their projects.
According to an Engineering News-Record article by Debra K. Rubin, “[p]rivate infrastructure investor BlackRock announced…a $100-million funding infusion in the next five years to boost training for up to 50,000 skilled craft workers, dubbed the Future Builders initiative, who can meet construction demand for the Ai-expanding infrastructure.”
This investment reflects an acknowledgment by AI companies of “a critical component of that technology development—craft workers needed to build required data center and related power infrastructure to meet unprecedented demand and complexity.”
Rubin notes that, “as the building surge grows, demand for skilled electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, ironworkers and other craft workers accelerates amid an aging workforce. Over the next decade, employment in U.S. infrastructure–related skilled trades is projected to grow by more than 5%, on average, with some trades much higher, compared to the national average of 3%.”
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink echoed this view: “Throughout our history, tradespeople have built our country. America needs an estimated $10 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2033 to modernize aging systems and build new energy, digital and AI infrastructure. Capital alone is not enough—people are central to building our nation’s future.”
How will this funding help? According to Rubin, “[t]he firm, through its foundation…aims to address urgent U.S. labor needs by connecting workers to skilled trades training, program completion and licensing—focusing on workforce development entities, both union and nonunion, including those run by federal, state and local governments, labor organizations, companies and nonprofits ‘to strengthen effective skilled trades programs and deliver these … at scale.’”
Those looking to help build a pipeline of skilled workers for the jobs of the future would do well to form partnerships, so that manufacturers can help educators understand exactly which skills are critical for local industries. Likewise, educators can provide insight into how manufacturers can best upskill current employees.
While tackling the challenges of training students and workers for modern careers in the trades can seem daunting, there are experts available to guide you through the process. For example, both manufacturers and educators can benefit from the expertise of the technical training experts at Amatrol.
Amatrol has been the world leader in technical education for more than four decades now. The experts at Amatrol can provide needed guidance on everything from training and hands-on skill development to industry-standard certifications and apprenticeships.
For example, Amatrol can help develop programs focused on the two primary types of workers identified by those behind the Future Builders initiative: skilled electricians and HVAC technicians.
- Electrical: Explore Amatrol’s in-depth Electrical training systems.
- HVACR: Check out Amatrol’s HVACR Training Solutions brochure.
The experts at Amatrol have been working alongside manufacturers and educational institutions for years to design training programs featuring eLearning curriculum and hands-on experience with trainers equipped with industrial components workers will encounter on the job. For more information about how Amatrol can help train students or workers, contact an expert at Amatrol today!
