After decades of outsourcing and automation spreading rumors of doom, manufacturing jobs are staging a comeback that is as unexpected as impressive.
The US manufacturing industry is churning 35% of productivity growth, driving 60% of the country’s exports. It is present at the forefront of 70% of private sector R&D. It’s safe to say that the industry is playing a pivotal role in driving the nation’s economic engine. The latest employment data from the Department of Labor shows that manufacturing jobs are hitting an all-time high, reaching post-recession highs. The industry has added 23,000 new jobs, bringing the total number of manufacturing workers to 12,979,000 – the highest since 2008.
This guide is a roadmap for job seekers that will help you understand the different types of manufacturing jobs, different levels of manufacturing experience, and how the industry will be affected by technology.
Types of Manufacturing Jobs in 2024
Manufacturing jobs refer to the process of converting raw materials or components into finished goods, creating everyday products we consume and utilize. These jobs are the core of a company’s production and the nation’s economy. These roles are responsible for handling every aspect of production, from the initial design to final assembly and packaging.
Manufacturing jobs include a wide range of roles across different industries.
Heavy Industry
Heavy industry makes up the production of large-scale products that often require substantial labor, materials, and resources. Here are some manufacturing experience examples in the heavy industry:
- Automotive: Assembly line workers, welders, machinists, quality control inspectors
- Shipbuilding: Welders, fabricators, electrical engineers, project managers
- Aerospace: Aerospace engineers, technicians, assembly specialists, quality assurance professionals
Light Industry
The light industry deals with the production of smaller, less complex products that are manufactured in higher quantities. Some examples of manufacturing jobs in this sector are:
- Electronics: Production operators, quality control inspectors, assembly technicians, electrical engineers
- Textiles: Sewing machine operators, pattern makers, quality control specialists, textile engineers
- Food Processing: Production operators, packaging specialists, quality control technicians, food scientists
High-Tech Manufacturing
High-tech manufacturing utilizes advanced technology and skilled labor to manufacture complex products. Examples of manufacturers that handle high-tech manufacturing include Apple iPhones, Tesla Model S, Boeing aircraft, and more. Manufacturing jobs in this industry include:
- Pharmaceuticals: Research scientists, chemical engineers, quality control analysts, production supervisors
- Semiconductors: Semiconductor process engineers, equipment technicians, quality engineers, and production managers
- Medical Devices: Biomedical engineers, quality assurance specialists, manufacturing engineers, production technicians
Custom Manufacturing
Instead of manufacturing a product in bulk, custom manufacturing focuses on designing and engineering goods based on specific requirements provided by a customer. Custom manufacturing works in small batches, with each product having varying sizes, quantities, designs, and other details. Here are the most common manufacturing jobs examples that use custom manufacturing:
- 3D Printing: 3D print operators, design engineers, quality control technicians
- Prototyping: Model makers, design engineers, materials specialists
- Bespoke Products: Skilled craftspeople, custom product designers, and quality assurance experts
What is Manufacturing Experience?
Manufacturing is on a hiring spree. A recent study by the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte predicts that 3.8 million new jobs will be created in the next decade. That’s a lot of opportunities for manufacturing jobs, but with such high demand, the competition for these roles is equally fierce. Landing any of these in-demand jobs will require extensive manufacturing experience.
So, what is manufacturing experience? It refers to the practical knowledge and hands-on skills in turning raw materials into finished products.
Manufacturing Experience Examples at Different Levels
Here are some common manufacturing experience examples that are described in entry-level to more advanced options.
Entry-Level Manufacturing Jobs
When you are at a starting point of your manufacturing career, roles often involve hands-on production tasks. Examples of manufacturers that heavily rely on these entry-level manufacturing roles include the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors.
- Production Line Worker
- Machine Operator
- Quality Inspector
- Material Handler
- Warehouse Worker
Skilled Trades
As we move up the ladder of manufacturing experience examples, you will notice that roles will require technical expertise.
- Welder
- Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Electrician
- Tool and Die Makers
- Industrial Mechanics
- Machinists
Technical Roles
Technical roles place more emphasis on technical expertise, and they are a step up from skilled trades like electrician or welder. Here are some manufacturing experience examples:
- Industrial Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Supply Chain Manager
Management
Management positions in manufacturing are responsible for overseeing operations and driving growth. These roles require a combination of leadership, technical knowledge of manufacturing processes, and critical thinking.
- Plant Manager
- Operations Manager
- Production Supervisor
What’s In Store for Manufacturing Jobs in the Future?
Manufacturing is undergoing a dramatic change fueled by technologies like AI, robotics, and the IoT, with the industry entering a new era often referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Here is an outlook on the latest trends in manufacturing jobs:
Technology is a Job Creator, Not a Job Destroyer
While the concerns for the predictions made in 2001: A Space-Time Odyssey of robots taking over mankind still prevail in 2024, history suggests otherwise. Over the past two centuries, technology has consistently helped in creating more jobs than it has eliminated. Manufacturing has also experienced this trend as processes are becoming automated and data-driven, creating space for new roles within the industry.
Skills Gap is a Growing Challenge
A growing and alarming skills gap plagues the manufacturing industry. The pace of advancing technology is also increasing the demand for workers with specialized manufacturing skills. Unfortunately, there is a mismatch between the skills that many workers currently possess (which are mostly obsolete) and those required for the jobs of the future. If this imminent skills gap remains unaddressed, the US is expected to have 1.9 million of 3.8 million manufacturing job openings unfilled between 2024 and 2033.
Generational Shifts and a Newborn Workforce
As older generations like Baby Boomers and Generation X take up retirement, Millennials and Gen Z are ready to fill their shoes in the workforce. Or, are they? The younger generation brings a different set of expectations regarding incentives, work environment, and reimbursements, like time flexibility and the growing remote working culture. These demands could force manufacturers to mold their talent retention strategies accordingly.
New Roles in Manufacturing
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is not just about connecting machines and data – it’s also creating entirely new job roles that didn’t even exist before. Here are a few examples created by Deloitte:
- Digital Twin Engineer: These engineers will be responsible for creating digital twins to optimize design, monitor the performance of important manufacturing operations, and predict maintenance needs.
- Predictive Supply Network Analyst: these analysts will be important players in managing the flow of goods and raw materials with the rise of digital supply networks. They will be adept in machine learning techniques and use data to align supply and demand, moving away from the traditional intuition and guessing game.
- Robot Teaming Coordinator: As robots become more integrated into manufacturing processes, there is a growing need for workers who can manage human-robot interactions. A robot teaming coordinator will train both robots and workers to work together and be productive.
Final Thoughts
Manufacturing jobs are aligning themselves with the growing tech boom, and the workforce is bound to experience a change. From entry-level positions on the production line to high-tech roles – manufacturing holds a place for everyone interested in working in this field. While keeping Deloitte’s predictions in mind, stay updated with recent digital trends, and don’t limit yourself to obsolete manufacturing roles.