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Sustainable construction leader Saint-Gobain North America thinks it may have a solution to the nation’s dearth of manufacturing talent: “a long-term program that brings modern manufacturing into the classroom and the classroom to the site floor” (Newsweek).

What’s going on: In a recent op-ed, Saint-Gobain North America CEO Mark Rayfield discusses manufacturing’s status as a major economic engine—but says that to maintain that distinction, the sector “will need to fill 3.8 million manufacturing jobs over the next decade” (citing a joint study from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, the NAM’s 501(c)3 workforce development and education affiliate).

• If current trends continue, 1.9 million roles could go unfilled, Rayfield continued, again citing the MI/Deloitte study.

Why it’s happening: “For years, students have been steered toward four-year degrees, while trade careers, especially in manufacturing, have been overlooked or stigmatized,” Rayfield writes.

• In fact, just 12% of American students have actually visited a manufacturing facility, according to the MI.

The fix: To fill those roles, Saint-Gobain North America recently launched the workforce development program “ Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities,” which “gives students a chance to explore immersive manufacturing environments with a focus on plant jobs that do not require an advanced degree,” according to the company.

• The company is already seeing some success from the program, Rayfield writes in Newsweek.
• “Across the country, we have already partnered with schools in North Carolina and Minnesota, and we will partner with over 10 additional high schools in Louisiana, Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Arkansas” this school year.

Why it’s working: “Let them get into our factories and see our employees and see that it’s not your 1950s manufacturing job, where you’re hammering the same nut as it goes by,” Rayfield told  Semafor.

• Manufacturing jobs “are [artificial intelligence]-enabled, they’re tech-enabled, they’re Industry 4.0, they’re mechanical engineering jobs, and they’re extremely rewarding,” he added.

From the MI: “Programs like Saint-Gobain’s show what’s possible when manufacturers open their doors and help students see modern manufacturing up close,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “These experiences don’t just change perceptions; they create pathways to meaningful careers and strengthen the workforce our industry needs to compete.”