Survey Finds Interest Lags in Manufacturing Jobs
WARREN, Ohio – Andrew Larrison, a junior at the Trumbull Career and Technical Center, believes pursuing a trades-based education ensures him a bright future, and he wants to be first in line when those opportunities become available.
"I'm looking forward to the oil and gas [industry]” that’s emerging in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, he said. "I like welding. I think it's a pretty good job and I like to get paid for it."
Larrison is among the 8% who said in a survey they would likely pursue a career in the manufacturing sector. The survey was conducted by a consortium of manufacturers.
The good news is that number matches up with the percentage of the nation's workforce employed in manufacturing.
The bad news is that in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, the percentage of the workforce engaged in manufacturing is closer to 13%, leaving industry in this region with a significant gap to fill with young people such as Larrison.
Larrison’s grandfather was a welder and his uncle is employed as one at Ajax Tocco Manufacturing, Warren. "He helped me jump start this and start doing welding."
The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition, the Manufacturing Industry Partnership of Lawrence and Mercer Counties, and the Prodigal Co. conducted the survey as part of the Oh-Penn Interstate Region's initiative to build a strong manufacturing base in the area.
"The goal of the project overall was to find out what are students' perceptions of careers in manufacturing," said Eric Karmecy, project manager for Oh-Penn Pathways to Competitiveness. "What's clear to us is that there's a clear shortage of workers in industry, particularly young people."
Over the last decade, the number of workers between the ages of 18 and 24 employed in manufacturing has been cut in half, Karmecy said, signaling troubling trends for future hiring.
"What we wanted to do is find out why are young people not pursuing careers in manufacturing," Karmecy said. "This survey was the first step in getting us there."
Karmecy said that the survey – which canvassed more than 1,000 students between the ages of 12 and 18 across the region -- found many misconceptions younger people have about pay, job opportunities, job security and safety related to careers in manufacturing.
Adam Richards, senior research analyst with the Prodigal Co., presented the findings Tuesday during a press event at the Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Champion Township. Career counselors, teachers, industry executives, workforce development specialists, and some 30 students were on hand to listen to the results.
Richards said the survey shows that although 8% are firmly interested in manufacturing careers, 12% of the sample responded that they are undecided.
It's this group that could be industry's best shot at beefing up its workforce. "They're not ruling it out," he noted. "We believe there are some students in this area that might be interested in manufacturing."
What's more interesting, Richards said, is what the survey said of those who said they aren't interested in a career in manufacturing.
The No. 1 objection to pursuing a career in manufacturing, according to this group, is the perception that layoffs are frequent in industry, and that it's extremely difficult to find a job.
"This is an objection that is fairly easily countered," Richards said. "The reality is that there are jobs in manufacturing, more than can be filled."
Also, the survey found that those who don't want to pursue a career in manufacturing think such jobs demand long hours, are dirty, loud, unsafe, and provide little opportunity for advancement.
"These objections are predicated on impressions that aren't accurate," he said. "We're finding that this is not an accurate reflection of what modern manufacturing is."
However, those who considered a career in manufacturing responded that they feel that job opportunities are abundant, that their future would be more secure, and the pay is very good. And, many have family members who are employed or are employed in the manufacturing trades.
"The strongest correlation is whether or not you had a family member in manufacturing," he said, which would enable a young person to see firsthand what modern manufacturing is all about. "They were 2 1/2 times more likely to have a favorable impression about manufacturing."
Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.