America’s military veterans will play a pivotal role in powering the next generation of advanced digital manufacturing, providing much-needed talent for rapidly transforming high-tech roles, according to Manpower Group. A partnership announced between the company and Rockwell Automation will reportedly upskill 1,000 veterans per year by 2018.
The U.S. manufacturing sector is estimated to produce up to 3.5 million new jobs over the next decade, according to Manpower. But with close to 2.5 million manufacturing workers set to retire by 2025 and ongoing skill shortages, up to 2 million of those new jobs could reportedly go unfilled. The United States needs to rapidly upskill its manufacturing workforce, says Manpower, and the thousands of veterans exiting the military every year represent a talented, skilled and underutilized source to fill these emerging roles.
“We are seeing the emergence of a skills revolution today — where helping people upskill and adapt to this fast-changing world of work will be the defining challenge of our time,” says Jonas Prising, chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup. “This initiative is a great example of very intense workforce development. We’re using proven training programs and adapting them for talented veterans who bring valuable skills and experience to the workplace. In return, we’re equipping them for sustainable careers in a fast-growing industry and increasing their earning potential at the same time.”
A recent global survey by ManpowerGroup finds that most U.S. employers think automation will increase, not decrease, headcount in manufacturing, but at a higher skill level. The technical retraining program will address this need, rapidly upskilling and placing veterans in high-demand roles in as little as four months, according to Manpower. Through the program, veterans will learn advanced manufacturing processes, acquiring skills that will reportedly increase their earning potential significantly and set them up for sustainable jobs at the forefront of advanced manufacturing.
The program expands the Rockwell Automation Engineer-in-Training (EIT) program, which combines classroom learning with hands-on laboratory experience, reportedly producing hundreds of graduates annually. It is also part of ManpowerGroup’s MyPath program focused on closing the skills gap by building the talent and skills that clients need while providing people with the guidance and access to jobs that enhance their employability. The program leverages the domain knowledge of Rockwell Automation in advanced manufacturing with ManpowerGroup’s global insight into changing skills needs and workforce solutions.
For more information, visit: www.manpowergroup.com
