EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine August 2019 | Page 35

Tackling the Talent Challenge in
MANUFACTURING
by Wilhemina Anderson
A
ccording to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, there are 12.82 million
manufacturing workers in the United States, accounting for 8.5 percent
of the workforce. In Volusia County, those working in manufacturing
make up 4.5 percent of the workforce, around 11,000 workers. *
But according to area manufacturers, more workers are needed. It’s a challenge
cities and towns across the nation are facing in this tight labor market.
Why is the market so tight? Experts say it’s a number of factors, including
retiring baby boomers, a lack of interest in manufacturing careers from the next
AUGUST 2019 | 35 |