Manufacturers are hiring again; what skills do they seek?

Photo above: Steve Nelson, a student in the Computer Controlled Precision Machining Diploma program, works a CNC mill in PTC's machining lab.

Finding a job in the current economy is a difficult task; however, recent reports indicate an unexpected source of jobs this year within the manufacturing industry is on the rise. According to expert estimates, the manufacturing industry is expected to fill a couple hundred thousand positions before the year's end. This is welcome news for an industry accustomed to shedding jobs overseas. There's a slight catch though -- manufacturers are looking to fill highly skilled roles; therefore, these jobs will be hard obtain unless candidates have advanced training and skills.

Industry experts note a dramatic skills shift in the manufacturing industry in recent years. Jobs that rely primarily on manual labor and brute strength are either declining or being sent overseas. This is sometimes referred to as the loss of "old line" manufacturing. So, what skills are manufacturers looking to hire for these days?

Skills manufacturers seek are primarily technology-related. They center around being able to work with the high tech machinery manufacturers increasingly rely on. Sure, there are still some manual labor jobs out there, but most of those are being lost overseas or declining here. The jobs trending upward require mathematical and reasoning abilities, knowledge of computerized systems, the ability to read blueprints, and/or the ability to write machine programming code.

To capitalize on the hiring rebound, prospective employees should seek specialized training and formal education; one of the best ways to accomplish this is to enroll in a technical training program such as the ones PTC offers. PTC is prepared to meet industry needs with skilled graduates from any of its machining programs: Precision Machining Certifiate; Computer Controlled Precision Machining Diploma; Computer Controlled Precision Manufacturing A.A.S. Degree; and, Advanced Manufacturing Technology -- Prototyping/Reverse Engineering Certficate. To learn more about these programs and how to apply, come for a Campus Visit!


Photo above: Robert Flannery, a a student in the Precision Machining Certificate program, works on a milling machine in PTC's machining lab.

Article adapted from: Singleton, D. (2011, April 29). Manufacturers are hiring again; what skills are they looking for? Software Advice . Retrieved May 24, 2011 from http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/manufacturing/manufacturers-skills-in-demand-1042911/.