Workforce Development: Bridging The Skills Gap In Electronics Manufacturing

2020 left a disruption in manufacturing as companies paused operations and adapted to operate with fewer people. This US Chamber of Commerce Foundation study finds that more than half of US states (28) have more open jobs than available workers to fill them. Even before the pandemic, the skills gap already plagued the labor market for the electronics manufacturing industry. According to an IPC study in 2017, two-thirds of the electronics industry companies have had difficulty finding production workers.

This article will discuss the skills gap, its causes and impact, and how organizations can use electronic manufacturing employee development service to combat this problem in the electronics manufacturing industry.

Skills Gap In Electronics Manufacturing

A 2018 study on the skills gap in the manufacturing industry reveals that 2.4 million jobs are available to be filled up to 2028. Even as the COVID-19 restrictions have been eased in 2021, the sudden influx of employees returning to work hasn’t solved this gap. The number of retirees continues to increase, leaving behind a gaping hole in the working population, especially manufacturing. There are just not enough skilled applicants to fill these positions.

In the electronics industry, insufficient experience is the common culprit why applicants fail to qualify for most positions. As a result, many companies struggle to fill production positions such as general assembler and hand solderer. And for some engineering and other technical professional positions, mainly in process, test, and quality control, there are no applicants at all.

The Cause And Impact Of Skills Gap

When the workplace has been reshaped once the pandemic hit, many roles became redundant, and new ones were created. This came along with the increasing demand for user-friendly electronic products. In the end, there were not enough people with the right skills to meet consumer demand.

As mentioned earlier, one of the key causes of this problem in electronics or manufacturing in general, is that experienced workers are retiring much faster than newcomers entering the workforce. Part of the reason is, young people are no longer keen on pursuing a career in manufacturing.

If this skills shortage continues, it will leave manufacturers with damaging consequences more than just failing to meet consumer demand. Companies will experience reduced productivity and increased operational costs to compensate for the lack of staffing. Ultimately, it will be difficult for manufacturers to stay competitive in the market if this problem persists.

EMS Employee Improvement Service

If the number of vacant positions is more than that of qualified workers, then the most sensible action is to upskill or retrain both existing and new employees. And that’s where electronic manufacturing employee development service comes in.

This service’s workforce development programs can effectively address problems in filling specific positions in the electronics industry by curating essential courses that will provide real-world knowledge and skills, especially in production. That way, frontline workers can do it right the first time, every time.

When organizations proactively invest in both new and existing employees’ professional development, they immediately overcome the skills shortage and gain a competitive advantage. Moreover, this focus on continuous learning will help build an organization’s reputation as a modern and rewarding sector for employment, inspiring more young people to enter the industry.

Takeaways

The electronics manufacturing skills shortage is a big problem that demands urgent attention. By partnering with a company that provides EMS employee improvement service, you can address this problem and reap many benefits such as:

• Reduced employee turnover
• Improved productivity and innovation
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Increased talent acquisition

The main takeaway is that developing your workforce can fill critical roles in your manufacturing company and bolster the electronics industry. One thing you can do right now to make this possible is by availing the electronic manufacturing employee development service of Blackfox. Build a future-ready workforce, and contact us today at (888) 837-9959 or email us at sharonm@blackfox.com.