Workforce

The Manufacturing Institute’s recent Heroes MAKE America ‘Military to Manufacturing’ Career Fair at Fort Bragg in North Carolina highlighted Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to helping our nation’s heroes.

What’s going on: The day’s event, which also comprised an employer spotlight and was held last Thursday on the 107-year-old military base, delivered on HMA’s mission: connecting military members seeking jobs with national and regional manufacturers looking for talent. More than 20 employers attended, hoping to recruit top talent.

• Since launching in 2018, Heroes MAKE America—an initiative of the NAM’s 501(c)3 workforce development and education affiliate, the Manufacturing Institute—has exposed nearly 50,000 participants searching for their next manufacturing careers through training and events.
• Johnson & Johnson Chief Technical Operations and Risk Officer and NAM Board chair and MI board member Kathy Wengel was on hand to give remarks to the audience, which consisted of HMA alumni, future class participants, active duty and transitioning military members, veterans, military spouses and state and military leadership.
• Wengel was joined by MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons, who serves as Chair of the MI’s Board, Johnson & Johnson Wilson plant manager and U.S. Army veteran Pete Goodridge, and North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs General Counsel Jimmie Bellamy.

Manufacturing needs you: A common theme among the manufacturing leaders’ remarks was the still-high number of open (and rewarding) jobs in the industry—currently at about 400,000.

• “We want even more people from across the nation to join this industry,” Lee told the crowd. “The skills you bring as transitioning service members—leadership, discipline, problem-solving, teamwork, technical expertise and more—are exactly what manufacturers are looking for. That’s what today is all about: connecting you with companies eager to meet you and that value your experience.”

Investing in the state—and the military: Timmons talked about the groundbreaking earlier this year of J&J’s new biologics facility in Wilson, North Carolina, as well as the health company’s announcement of its intention to invest $55 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the next four years.

• “That investment sends a powerful signal about the opportunities in store for those considering this career path,” Timmons added.
• Added Wengel, “In addition to our partnership with Heroes MAKE America, we have several initiatives at J&J to support military hires and the military community as a whole.”
• Through the Veteran’s Leadership Council, the group gives its workforce access to mentors and volunteers, leadership and development opportunities. It also has a strong military leave policy, which provides full pay and benefits to activated employees for up to three years. J&J partners with leading veterans service organizations to offer a wide range of services to veterans and their families.

Why Heroes? Heroes MAKE America—which has a Skillbridge Certified Logistics Technician course in partnership with Fayetteville Technical Community College, near Fort Bragg  also offers in-person and virtual training programs nationwide to assist veterans and transitioning military members in earning industry recognized certifications and skills needed in modern manufacturing.

• These include courses in manufacturing operations, industrial system maintenance, automation and robotics, and aviation maintenance.
• “These programs don’t just train you,” Lee told the audience. “They open doors.”
• More than 500 companies in 49 states have hired HMA graduates at salaries exceeding $72,000. The program has a 96% graduation rate and a 92% placement rate.

Dive deeper: Learn more about how your company can get involved with Heroes MAKE America here.

More than one in five unemployed Americans have been out of work for more than half a year, a post-pandemic high (The Washington Post, subscription).

What’s going on: “In all, more than 1.9 million Americans had been unemployed ‘long term’ in August, meaning they have been out of work for 27 weeks or more, a critical cliff when it comes to finding a job. That’s nearly double the 1 million people who were in a similar position in early 2023.”

• While the likelihood of losing one’s job has not increased substantially, the probability of remaining unemployed in the event of a job loss has risen, according to the Post.
• The past two months have shown job market cooling, with weaker-than-anticipated jobs numbers leading “policymakers to voice concerns that the labor market could continue deteriorating.”
• Recent weekly unemployment insurance claims were at their highest in nearly three years.

Why it’s significant: “Six months of unemployment often signals a turning point in a person’s job search, according to economists. They’ve probably run out of unemployment insurance benefits and severance payments by then, leaving them on shakier financial ground.  People who have been unemployed for more than six months are also more likely to become discouraged and stop looking for work altogether.”

• Although the unemployment rate is near historic lows, many employers have paused hiring as they wait to see the effect of tariffs and other trade-related policies.

Confidence tanks: Now, for the first time in four years, there are more unemployed people in the U.S. than there are open jobs—and job-seeker confidence is crashing.

• In a recent Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey, respondents gave themselves less than a 45% chance of finding work in the next three months in the event they were to lose their current jobs. That’s the lowest reading in more than 12 years.
• Finding work has been especially difficult for recent college graduates, as there are fewer entry-level positions available.

An economist’s view: “As reflected in the previous four months of job losses, the manufacturing industry has faced challenges,” said NAM Chief Economist Victoria Bloom. “We’re now seeing that weakness spread to other industries and through the broader economy, a cautionary signal.’”

The Manufacturing Institute, the NAM’s workforce development and education affiliate, announced a new partnership between the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME USA), the premier American model of manufacturing skills training, and ShopFloor Coffee, a mission-driven coffee brand that supports skilled trades and manufacturing education nationwide.

How it works: ShopFloor Coffee will donate 20% of proceeds directly to workforce development programs across the country, including FAME USA, Robotics Education & Competition Foundation and All Within My Hands, Metallica’s foundation supporting skilled trades.

• “FAME USA is proud to partner with ShopFloor Coffee to support our shared mission of growing and sustaining a highly skilled manufacturing workforce,” said FAME USA National Director Tony Davis. “It’s about creating opportunities for students, celebrating those already in the field and building a pipeline of talent for the future.”
• “We’re honored to fuel the future of manufacturing through this partnership,” said ShopFloor Coffee Co-Founder Mike Franz. “This isn’t just about better coffee in breakrooms. It’s about waking people up to the power of American manufacturing and the programs, like FAME USA, that keep it strong.”

FAME: FAME offers a cutting-edge earn-and-learn model, in which students earn associate degrees while also working at manufacturing facilities. Students across the country have gone on to many high-paying careers at major manufacturing firms.

What’s next: Together, FAME USA and ShopFloor Coffee will shine a spotlight on the stories of students, apprentices and employers shaping the future, while rallying communities to invest in workforce development in new and creative ways.

High schools and community colleges in Colorado are increasingly offering students an alternative to a four-year degree: training programs that will prepare them for well-paying jobs in manufacturing (KUNC).

What’s going on: At CEC Early College in Denver, the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus in Centennial and other campuses, apprenticeship “programs are coming back, in part, through funding for career and technical education. In Colorado, 69 manufacturing programs operate at high schools across the state.”

• CoorsTek, a Golden, Colorado–based manufacturer of technical ceramic products, trained 18-year-old Genesis Gomez on its complex machinery—including its computer numeric control machines—during Gomez’s apprenticeship through Early College. Gomez has since graduated and is now a full-time CoorsTek employee.
• Andrew Sutliff, an 18-year-old current apprentice at CoorsTek through Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, is planning a career in manufacturing upon graduation from the program. “I would much rather do this than sit in a classroom for another four years,” he said.

Why it’s important: Though U.S. manufacturing job openings have declined slightly  since 2024, talent acquisition remains a top manufacturer concern nationwide.

• “While job openings still remain significant, even though the pace of hiring has slowed, this creates space for employers to refocus on long-term talent development … like apprenticeships and upskilling,” NAM Chief Economist Victoria Bloom told the news outlet. Bloom is also head of research at the Manufacturing Institute (the NAM’s workforce development and education affiliate).
• In July, there were 437,000 manufacturing job openings in the U.S., down from the half-million jobs averaged throughout 2024.

Check it out: For more information about apprenticeships and other job-training programs, visit the MI’s website here.

• And to learn much about the industry’s most effective workforce strategies, join the MI for its Workforce Summit Oct. 20–22 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Data centers and factories are increasingly vying for talent as older manufacturing-sector workers retire and younger people prioritize college (CBS News).

What’s going on: “Roughly 400,000 skilled trade jobs are unfilled in America, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2033, it’s estimated that number could hit close to 2 million, according to Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute,” CBS points out.

• Data centers—whose growth has been turbocharged by the rise of artificial intelligence applications—require round-the-clock technical support, and the sector is having trouble finding enough workers.

Good jobs: In skilled trade positions, workers have “insurance, they got health care, they got a pension,” one electrician told the news source.

• In Chicago, an experienced HVAC technician can earn more than $150,000 a year.

The MI says: “The U.S. economy needs far more apprenticeship programs and similar training options to attract young people to jobs in manufacturing and related careers. The demand from data centers underscores the importance that these hands-on skills will have in the AI-enabled economy of the future—AI will not replace humans; it will enhance and even expand the labor force,” said MI Chief Program Officer Gardner Carrick.

• “The MI’s many offerings—including FAME USA, the apprenticeship-style training program founded by Toyota and now run by the MI—are leading the way in helping manufacturers and partner industries head into this future with the well-trained, well-paid workforce they need.”

The STEP Ahead Awards are back—and nominations are now open.

What’s going on: The Manufacturing Institute’s annual awards and gala are returning to its original name, STEP Ahead, recognizing standout women and allies in manufacturing. The MI is the NAM’s 501(c)3 workforce development and education affiliate.

• “By returning to the STEP Ahead name, we’re honoring the program’s history while expanding our mission to include both women and allies whose leadership bolsters our industry and shapes its future,” said STEP Ahead National Director Lexi Champion.

Who they’re looking for: Until Oct. 10, the MI is accepting the names and details of exceptional manufacturing leaders for nomination for the 2026 STEP Ahead Awards.

• Nominees and winners in past years have included manufacturing professionals who volunteer extensively in their communities, those who have started mentorship programs at their employer companies and individuals who have launched product lines.
• In short, the MI is seeking manufacturing professionals who “constantly exceed expectations making an impact in their companies and in their communities,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee.
• Awardees will be announced publicly in March and then celebrated at the awards gala in Washington, D.C., in April. Prior to the gala, awardees will participate in a two-day leadership conference in Washington, D.C., focused on peer learning, leadership development and inspiration.

Why it’s important: Manufacturing needs skilled talent—and the awards help “elevate proven role models whose leadership inspires others and helps attract and retain the talent our industry needs to thrive,” Champion said.

The details: To learn who’s eligible for nomination, how nominees are scored and selected and to see winning writing samples from past entrants, review the 2026 Nomination Guide and submit your nomination today.

Still need a hand? Join the MI for its webinar, Strategies for Successful Nominations, this Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT. Register here.

Toyota has provided its manufacturing team members with high-quality childcare options for decades. This week, it announced a major expansion in its offerings, revealing plans for four new childcare centers for parents working at plants in North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and West Virginia.

How it works: The centers, which will all open by 2027, will be managed by third-party childcare providers and offer schedules that align with plant operations, so that team members can go to work confident that their children are well looked after.

• “At Toyota, we know it is paramount for working parents to have access to quality childcare, and manufacturing is not always a nine-to-five job,” said Denita Neville, vice president of Toyota’s corporate shared services.
• “Offering childcare motivates and empowers our team members, makes our industry more inclusive and helps our smallest learners of today become our biggest leaders of tomorrow.”

A long history: These four new centers will join two other facilities that have been in operation for years.

• Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky, plant has offered round-the-clock childcare since way back in 1993. Its Indiana center is also well-established, having opened its doors in 2003, and is undergoing an expansion that will be completed this September. (Check out our previous article on these centers here.)

• All of Toyota’s sites are or will be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, which establishes standards for high-quality childcare.

Other offerings: Toyota also provides other childcare options, partnering with Bright Horizons to help team members find regular childcare and backup options for emergency care, among other services.

Rave reviews: “As a working mom, it’s been such a relief to have childcare that supports my work schedule,” said Patricia Pastrana Arroyo, a group leader at Toyota Indiana, said about the Indiana center.

• “The early education program is exceptional. The teachers are nurturing, attentive and genuinely caring toward each child. They keep parents informed with daily reports, pictures and updates, which helps me feel connected to my son even when I’m not there.”

Partnering with the MI: As an active partner of the Manufacturing Institute, the NAM’s workforce development and education affiliate, Toyota has contributed to the MI’s efforts to bolster the manufacturing industry’s childcare offerings.

• Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, a joint venture between Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation, helped the MI formulate its influential whitepaper about childcare in the industry, “Flexibility Approaches for Manufacturing Production Workers,” which found that companies that provided workers with the flexibility to meet personal obligations, such as child care, reported greater success.
• Toyota also participated in an MI panel for manufacturing workforce leaders interested in expanding their own companies’ benefits.

The last word: “Toyota’s investment in childcare sets a powerful example of how manufacturers can meet the real needs of their workforce,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee.

• “Access to quality, flexible childcare not only supports working parents, it strengthens our industry’s ability to attract and retain talent. By removing one of the biggest hurdles to workforce participation, Toyota is helping to ensure that more people can build meaningful, long-term careers in manufacturing.”

The Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the NAM—announced that Novonesis, a global leader in biosolutions, will serve as the platinum sponsor for MFG Day 2025, an initiative of the MI.

What it means: Novonesis will host the MI’s MFG Day event on Oct. 2 at their North American headquarters in Franklinton, North Carolina.

• In addition, Novonesis sites across the country will host other events in honor of MFG Day, a monthlong celebration of manufacturing excellence during which students, parents and educators can explore the industry’s many exciting career paths.
• Hundreds of other companies throughout the U.S. will join Novonesis and the MI in this celebration, hosting events that highlight a vast array of industry sectors, job types, educational opportunities and much more.

What they’ll see: Novonesis will welcome 200 local high school students, key educational institutions and biotech partners on Oct. 2, as well as state and national leadership for an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at Novonesis’s laboratories and production facility.

• These visitors will get to see scientists developing biosolutions for use in food, fuel, household products, supplements, animal health and nutrition, agriculture and more.

What we’re saying: “As an innovative biomanufacturer, Novonesis is a perfect company to headline MFG Day. Its state-of-the-art labs and facilities showcase everything modern manufacturing has to offer as a career path,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee.

• “In a study  co-written by MI and Deloitte last year, we found that the manufacturing sector will have more than 3.8 million job openings by 2033. This shortage is an existential threat to our industry. MFG Day is an opportunity for our industry to start building the workforce of tomorrow by educating students about rewarding career opportunities that they might not otherwise consider.”
• “We thank Novonesis for showing students everything our sector has to offer by opening its doors and inspiring students—not just in North Carolina, but nationwide.”

A long history: Manufacturers have been opening their doors on MFG Day since 2012, in one of the industry’s foremost efforts to attract and shape the next generation of talent.

• By stepping inside manufacturing facilities, students experience—up close and in action—what modern manufacturing really looks like.
• Last year, MFG Day boasted more than 700 registered events nationwide, inspiring thousands of students to imagine themselves in a wide range of creative, high-tech careers.

The last word: “The future of manufacturing—and biomanufacturing in particular—depends on our ability to inspire and prepare the next generation for the high-tech, high-impact careers ahead,” said Tue Micheelsen, Novonesis North America president and head of global consumer health.

• “For decades, Novonesis has helped strengthen America’s manufacturing workforce by supporting STEM education, advancing training programs like BioWork, and creating hands-on learning opportunities that connect talent with real-world applications.”
• “Through Manufacturing Day, we’re opening our doors to students and communities across the country to spark curiosity, challenge outdated perceptions, and show that the innovations shaping the world can start in their own backyards. These efforts aren’t just about building a pipeline of skilled workers. They’re about helping the U.S. lead the future of biomanufacturing.”

California’s manufacturing community has several reasons to celebrate.

What’s going on: On July 28, California marked a major milestone: the launch of the first-ever Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education chapter west of the Rockies. Reedley College hosted both the chapter’s debut and FAME Signing Day, celebrating students who are beginning their journeys in advanced manufacturing.

• California Representatives Jim Fong and Jim Costa were on hand at Reedley on signing day, when the new Central Valley FAME Chapter was announced.
• Students in the new chapter will work part-time jobs this year at manufacturing companies while taking manufacturing-focused classes on campus.

The background: FAME is the highly successful workforce development program founded in 2010 by Toyota and now run entirely by the Manufacturing Institute, the NAM’s 501c3 workforce development and education affiliate.

Years in the making: The new chapter’s establishment was the result of four years of collaboration and commitment.

• Four years ago, Fresno County Economic Development Corporation was part of a cohort that received technical assistance from the MI, learning how to apply for the Good Jobs challenge grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
• Three years ago, Fresno County EDC was awarded $23 million, allowing it to expand its work with the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance and other regional partners.
• In 2023, Reedley College piloted a short-term manufacturing training program and started a regional listening tour for potential employers.
• Last year, dozens of manufacturers in the valley gathered to determine their training needs and start a local FAME chapter.

The MI says: “This milestone proves what’s possible when education and industry work together: a stronger talent pipeline, better career pathways and a brighter future for manufacturing in California and nationwide,” said Gardner Carrick, chief program officer at the Manufacturing Institute. “It’s proof that when industry and education come together with a shared vision, we can transform communities.”

Get involved: Learn more here about FAME and how you can tap into this global-best training resource. And don’t forget to follow FAME USA on LinkedIn.

Portland, Oregon–The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas were awarded the 2025 Leadership Award from the Conference of State Manufacturers Associations, whose members also serve as the National Association of Manufacturers’ official state partners. COSMA members drive manufacturers’ priorities on state issues, mobilize local communities and elevate federal policy from the ground up in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The Arkansas State Chamber and AIA were recognized for their innovative, multi-state workforce initiative, Be Pro Be Proud.

“The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas and President and CEO Randy Zook have shown extraordinary leadership in tackling one of manufacturing’s most persistent challenges—closing the workforce gap,” said New Jersey Business & Industry Association President and CEO and COSMA Chair Michele Siekerka. “By building a dynamic, multi-faceted initiative that introduces students to the power of manufacturing, opportunities in the industry and hands-on workshops to learn about the sector, the State Chamber and AIA are expanding opportunity and empowering employers across the country to recruit and retain the next generation of talent.”

The Leadership Award recognizes the achievement of a state manufacturing association that has developed impactful initiatives to support manufacturers and strengthen manufacturing in their state. The Be Pro Be Proud initiative uses mobile workshops featuring state-of-the-art simulators to introduce students to modern manufacturing and connect them with local employers. Since its launch in 2016, the program has expanded to seven states, with an eighth launching in 2025, and it has reached more than 422,520 mobile workshop visitors.

“By transforming the perception of modern manufacturing careers—and demonstrating to students that manufacturing drives innovation, entrepreneurialism and life-changing career opportunities—the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas are supporting the next generation of builders and creators,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “Through the Be Pro Be Proud initiative, they are inspiring students and delivering solutions for employers. The NAM congratulates Randy and the entire organization for their innovative leadership and tireless commitment to strengthening America’s manufacturing workforce.”

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.93 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 53% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org