Workers at Voss Manufacturing collaborating on machinery tasks.
Voss Manufacturing, a family-owned business in Upstate New York, is addressing a significant skilled labor shortage as many of its employees approach retirement. With a workforce that’s 30% nearing retirement, the company is collaborating with Dream It Do It Western New York to create a talent pipeline aimed at engaging students in manufacturing careers. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between education and skills required in manufacturing, while current challenges like potential funding cuts to support centers threaten the sector’s future.
Located in the heart of Upstate New York, Voss Manufacturing has been a pivotal part of the community since 1967. This family-owned business specializes in machinery for the heat exchanger industry and offers custom design and manufacturing services. With a dedicated workforce of around 110 employees, Voss is facing a significant challenge as approximately 30% of its workforce is nearing retirement. This looming concern has prompted the company to take steps to secure its future in the manufacturing sector.
As manufacturing evolves, finding skilled tradespeople has become a daunting task. The engineering and development manager at Voss has pointed out an alarming trend: for every skilled tradesperson leaving, only one is entering the workforce. This imbalance poses a major hurdle for the company’s growth. The current labor market is feeling the strain, and it’s clear that something must be done to address this growing skills gap.
To tackle this challenge head-on, Voss Manufacturing has teamed up with Dream It Do It Western New York. This exciting initiative aims to create a robust talent pipeline for the manufacturing sector by bridging the gap between education and real-world manufacturing opportunities. Dream It Do It is particularly focused on connecting with students who may not see themselves pursuing a traditional college path, highlighting the rewarding potential of careers in skilled trades.
Initially successful in regions like Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Allegany, Dream It Do It is now expanding its reach to include businesses in Erie and Niagara counties. This broader initiative has the support of over 1,600 manufacturers who currently employ about 70,000 individuals and are responsible for generating nearly $27 billion in annual manufacturing shipments. The hope is to inspire students and showcase the vast opportunities available in the manufacturing world.
The initiative’s president has emphasized the goal of engaging students within schools, facilitating connections that could lead them into fulfilling manufacturing careers. However, there is a pressing concern among industry leaders that local schools might not be doing enough to steer young people toward skilled trades careers. This revelation underscores the importance of outreach programs targeting students, teachers, and school counselors to shift perceptions and spark interest.
With the manufacturing landscape changing rapidly, concerns arise regarding potential federal funding cuts to New York’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers, which play a vital role in supporting manufacturing jobs. Severe funding reductions could jeopardize thousands of jobs across the sector. It has been noted that these centers provide essential technical assistance and workforce development services to small and medium-sized manufacturers, with a network that receives about $6.9 million a year.
Since 2019, the New York MEP network has contributed to the creation or retention of over 32,000 jobs and has supported more than 4,400 projects. Economic leaders are sounding alarms about the possible repercussions of MEP cuts, fearing it could stifle growth in the manufacturing sector and hinder the attraction of new supply chains. As a significant portion of the current manufacturing workforce approaches retirement, predictions suggest that one-third of Western New York’s manufacturing jobs may go unfilled in the next decade.
Despite the challenges, there is hope. Programs like Dream It Do It aim to inspire a new generation to step into the manufacturing field. By shining a light on the many rewarding opportunities that exist, the hope is to cultivate an excited and skilled future workforce, ready to take on the challenges and innovations of tomorrow’s manufacturing world.
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