How to Attract Younger Workers to Fill Your Manufacturing Jobs

At the moment, plenty of baby boomers and Generation Xers are willing to step into those roles, but that situation is likely to change. According to an estimate from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could be unfilled by 2030. Even in large facilities, a decline that significant could be catastrophic.

There aren’t any obvious answers on how manufacturers can attract young workers — millennials and members of Generation Z — especially when the companies are used to dealing with older generations. When creating job postings, or devising openings, keep the following points in mind.

1. Make pay a priority

Though millennials are considered the most educated generation to date, the average millennial worker earns 20% less than baby boomers did at the same stage in life.

Given their large student debt balances and a rising cost of living not matched by wage growth, many millennials are struggling to make ends meet — at a time when most members of the generation are already in their 30s. Fewer millennials are buying homes and starting families, and Gen Zers may find themselves in the same financial bind.

Pay is a top priority for young workers, particularly those who graduated into an economic depression and lost years of valuable career growth.

Millennials want enough money to support a family, pay back debt, and live without working side hustles, so strong manufacturing salaries should be a central part of job posts. Contrary to jokes about pool tables and minibars, millennials want financial security more than on-the-job luxuries.

2. Advertise in the right places

For younger generations, job searching almost entirely revolves around the internet. When looking for new employment online, most job seekers head straight to aggregator sites like ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn and Indeed to check out the atmosphere.

Companies that don’t make the most of these platforms miss out on great workers of all ages.

Many job search sites allow for paid promotions, placing sponsored job ads at the top of search results to enhance visibility. Taking on the extra cost may not be a financially wise move for every manufacturing firm, but it can be a good way to make sure job searchers see open roles, even when they're not searching specifically for manufacturing jobs.

Young people in search of a good-paying job with no particular field in mind may jump at a lucrative opportunity in manufacturing.

3. Create a comfortable climate

Millennials and other younger workers prioritize things like respect and open communication in the workplace, according to the latest research on employment trends.

They want to feel valued, heard and appreciated — and many feel they owe their employers little, if anything, if they are not treated well. After the economic and social disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, employment activity is showing young people aren't afraid to walk away from jobs with poor working conditions and low pay.

Benefits that encourage wellness can go a long way toward attracting and keeping younger workers.

They want to feel safe discussing mental health at work, and they’re looking for flexibility in scheduling to accommodate family emergencies and other personal issues. They’re seeking perks that include maternity and paternity leave.

A rigid culture that prioritizes work above all else isn't appealing to younger workers, especially those dealing with burnout and abuse from other employers. Some millennials, particularly those with working spouses, may even stay in lower-paying roles in exchange for flexibility, trust and respect.