May 01, 2025 by Deb Volzer, SME Program Owner The manufacturing industry is sounding the alarm—and SME is answering the call. With over 460,000 jobs currently unfilled and a projected gap of 4 million by 2030, the future of U.S. manufacturing depends on bold, collaborative action. That’s why we launched the Manufacturing Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC): a national initiative uniting community colleges, manufacturers, and workforce leaders to tackle talent shortages head-on. This week, we’re proud to release the MI-WPC National Impact Report Summary, capturing the challenges, progress, and powerful momentum behind this initiative’s first year. From faculty shortages to funding gaps to outdated public perceptions, the report outlines what we’ve learned—and where we’re headed next. Read the Report Here The U.S. manufacturing sector faces an unprecedented workforce shortage There are over 460,000 positions currently unfilled (not even accounting for retirees. This gap is projected to grow to 4 million unfilled positions by 2030 (SME, 2024). This shortfall jeopardizes national security, economic stability, and the competitive advantage of America. If left unaddressed, the economic impact could exceed $4 trillion in lost GDP, while the offshoring of manufacturing operations could accelerate – further weakening the economy and country. Launched in September 2023, the Manufacturing Imperative— Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC) is a transformative initiative designed to address critical workforce shortages in manufacturing through partnership with a select number community colleges. SME seeks to leverage its expertise in manufacturing to accelerate the college’s current talent pipeline efforts to meet the growing demand of manufacturers. Our Collective Challenges Faculty Shortages: Persistent difficulties in recruiting qualified instructors have hindered colleges’ ability to expand course offerings. The disparity between competitive industry salaries and college instructor pay remains a primary barrier, limiting capacity to meet the growing demand for skilled talent. Funding Gaps: Limited funding restricts efforts to engage learners effectively, upgrade facilities, acquire modern equipment, and provide competitive compensation for instructors. These gaps exacerbate existing challenges, constraining program growth and development. Public Perception of Manufacturing: The widespread misconception of manufacturing as “dirty, dark, and dangerous” industry continues to hinder recruitment efforts. This negative image, coupled with a lack of career awareness and general knowledge of manufacturing opportunities, discourages potential learners from pursuing careers in the field. Our Approach and Actions In its inaugural phase, the MI-WPC set out to assess the unique challenges and opportunities within each college's community, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, collecting actionable data, and developing unique strategic plans to meet local needs. This initiative highlighted shared priorities across participating colleges, including: Engaging small and medium-sized manufacturers to strengthen partnerships. Expanding career awareness and outreach to attract new learners, Aligning programs with learner needs through flexible modalities, Strengthening connections with community-based organizations (CBOs), and Increasing program capacity through faculty, funding, and facilities. To address these priorities, the MI-WPC implemented three cornerstone strategies: Our dedicated councils guide the work of the initiative and support solution development Focused research studies to create a deeper understanding of industry needs, learner barriers, and strengthen collaboration in the community Expanded support and resources to achieve our collective goals. Next Steps As we look at 2025 and beyond, MI-WPC is poised to drive transformative change in the manufacturing workforce and education pipeline. Our efforts will focus on crafting scalable, replicable solutions that address the critical gaps in talent and training while aligning with the unique needs of local communities. By expanding insight studies across all participating colleges, we ensure that localized data not only informs but propels national strategies, fostering deeper connections between colleges, manufacturers, and community organizations. Key priorities will include testing and refining innovative solutions for sourcing and retaining faculty, bridging the gap between manufacturers and education providers, and scaling innovative programming and targeted marketing initiatives to create community-driven pathways that amplify local economies. These efforts will be supported by strategic partnerships, extending the resources and capabilities available to colleges, while engaging local and national stakeholders to strengthen the workforce ecosystem.
