SME Report Lists Progress and Goals for National Workforce Initiative

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SME, formerly known as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, has released a status report on its Manufacturing Imperative Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC), which is working to address the manufacturing industry’s growing workforce and skills gap. In its first year, the initiative has engaged 25 community colleges across 17 states, indicating momentum toward its goal of engaging 1,000 learners per college annually and 75,000 over three years.

According to SME, the manufacturing workforce in the U.S. is facing a critical shortage, with more than 460,000 positions currently unfilled — not to mention the many roles soon to be vacated by retiring workers. Without intervention, this gap is projected to widen to 4 million unfilled positions by 2030.

One possible solution focuses on the 8 million young adults aged 18–24 who are not currently pursuing postsecondary education. SME says that tapping into this demographic, along with adults who have been overlooked in workforce training and employment, is key to meeting the immediate and future needs of manufacturing. Additionally, efforts must focus on engaging populations that remain on the margins of education and training opportunities to ensure an inclusive approach to solving these challenges.

SME’s new national impact report outlines the program’s accomplishments, including more than 467 new courses and course sections, benefiting nearly 18,000 learners, as well as more than 2,000 outreach events which have involved nearly 43,000 students, faculty and community members.

This initiative has fostered vital collaboration among educational institutions, industry leaders and community partners to address workforce challenges. As MI-WPC moves forward, the program will scale successful strategies, replicate proven solutions and ensure that efforts remain adaptable to local needs.

Learn more about the MI-WPC and its progress in the full National Impact Report.

Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents the entire North American manufacturing industry, including manufacturers, academia, professionals, students and the communities in which they operate. The organization believes manufacturing holds the key to economic growth and prosperity, and it champions the industry’s potential.