Workforce Recruitment and Development

A 2021 study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute anticipates 2.1 million jobs going unfilled by 2030, costing the economy as much as $1 trillion.

Die casters face significant challenges recruiting qualified employees to manufacture products essential for every sector of the economy, from automotive and defense to medical device and agribusiness. Many applicants lack fundamental skills while others remain unaware of the thousands of well-paying manufacturing careers available today.

In Washington, the answer to workforce issues is too often to throw money at a training program. Manufacturers need targeted policies that focus on recruiting, training, and placing employees into in-demand jobs. We cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach to address our workforce shortages. A manufacturer in one part of the country may need a machine operator while in a different region the demand for engineers is greater. NADCA believes local businesses and community leaders should decide which programs receive priority funding and know best which regional employers have job openings.

In addition to the immediate needs, we must attract the next generation of manufacturers. Businesses need to play a direct role in establishing K-12 STEM curriculum. We must help educators develop programs that better prepare students for the workforce and inform them about opportunities in manufacturing industries. Public-private partnerships with businesses and industry associations like NADCA are critical, as these employer groups have the expertise needed to partner with educators and trainers to develop curriculum for the next generation of manufacturers.

NADCA believes the U.S. Congress and administration should enact legislation and policies that encourage the recruitment, training, and placement of workers in die casting careers by enacting policies and regulations including, but not limited to:

Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act
Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act reauthorization
College Transparency Act
Support Work-Based Learning programs
Upskilling and Retraining Assistance Act
Assisting Community Colleges in Educating Skilled Students (ACCESS) to Careers Act
Industry supported apprentices

POLICY POSITIONS Careers in Die Casting