The manufacturing industry is an indispensable component of our state’s economy. There are 6,322 manufacturing establishments in Tennessee and more than 316,000 employees. However, due to an aging workforce, economic expansion and misconceptions about the industry, manufacturers face a skilled labor shortage. According to a study by the Manufacturing Institute, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled over the next decade. The skills gap is expected to result in 2 million of those jobs going unfilled.
I continue to hear from manufacturing employers across the 3rd District who say they have a growing number of jobs but cannot find candidates with the necessary skills. Though the skills gap presents a challenge for employers, it presents an opportunity for workers because these jobs exist and are growing. In addition, the majority of these jobs are high paying with good benefits. If we address the issue correctly, wages will rise and unemployment will drop. We just need to train and educate more of our workforce to match employers’ needs.
On Oct. 2, National Manufacturing Day, I hosted a Workforce Solutions Summit at Chattanooga State Community College for those interested in addressing workforce demands. Nearly 100 local leaders showed up. The summit’s primary objective was to facilitate collaboration among these groups to identify strategies, policies and partnerships to enhance viability of the workforce.
During discussions, one issue repeatedly came up: perception. Employers and educators explained that manufacturing has an image problem. Young people think a career in manufacturing means working in a dirty, unsafe environment for minimal pay and little chance of professional development. Having toured major manufacturing plants in the Chattanooga area, I have seen that these perceptions are wrong. Many plants are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and are so clean you can eat off the floor. Also, the average salary in Tennessee for a skilled manufacturing worker is $65,000, and there is often room for substantial growth.
As Tennessee’s only appropriator in the House of Representatives, I have used my position on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee to advocate for career and technical education and for increased funding flexibility for workforce programs. Almost $1 billion has gone to community colleges to support creation or expansion of manufacturing education programs over the last several years. Another $100 million is now available for apprenticeship programs. Chattanooga State has done an exemplary job collaborating with local employers like Volkswagen Academy, Wacker Institute and the TVA Partnership Program to establish training partnerships. Tennessee also has notable workforce initiatives such as Tennessee Drive to 55, Tennessee Promise, LEAP and Tennessee Reconnect.