How strategic employer-college collaborations at on-campus events are bridging the technician talent gap.
The skills shortage gripping industries worldwide is more than a concern. Instead, it’s a critical challenge that threatens to stifle growth and innovation.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by staggering statistics: three out of every four employers globally are struggling to find the talent they need. This isn’t a fleeting issue but an escalating crisis that could leave over 85 million jobs unfilled by 2030 due to a shortage of skilled talent.
The underlying causes are complex, ranging from an aging workforce to gaps in skills-based education, which leave many potential workers underprepared for today’s job market.
Closer to home in the US, the situation is just as distressing. More than 65% of manufacturers cited the inability to attract and retain talent as their top challenge, according to the 2024 First Quarter Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey by the National Association of Manufacturers. This figure is even more alarming when one considers U.S. manufacturing may need as many as 3.8 million new employees by 2033. If the skills shortage persists, it could jeopardize $2.5 trillion in manufacturing output over the next decade.
The impact of this shortage is already being felt in critical industries. For instance, a shortage of skilled labor has been reported as one of the key reasons behind the series of recent crashes and other safety-related incidents involving Boeing aircraft. Together, these incidents have raised serious concerns about the company’s reputation in general and the reliability of its aircraft.
While these statistics and stories highlight the severity of the skilled talent shortage, there is a silver lining: a growing awareness of the need to tackle this issue and an increase in emerging job opportunities.
What employers perceive as a skills shortage, learners see as a technician boom, with rapidly growing job sectors expected over the next decade.
AI and automation are disrupting the workforce in diverse ways. AI is expected to affect almost 40% of jobs around the world, replacing some while complementing others. This technological shift, however, is also driving a renewed interest in hands-on careers, particularly technician roles.
The data supports this trend. Technician jobs are growing far beyond the national average of 3%. In fact, some technician roles, like semiconductor technicians and wind turbine technicians, are growing at a pace that’s over ten times the national norm.
The financial incentives for pursuing a career in these fields are becoming increasingly attractive. Many of these technician jobs offer enticing salaries north of $60,000 or $70,000 per year. The benefits are just as attractive.
Job satisfaction in these hands-on jobs continues to be very high. Workers appreciate the fulfillment that comes from solving problems with their hands and enjoy future job security, as these roles are less susceptible to being replaced by AI. (Technicians are typically working alongside robots, not being displaced by them.)
Despite the expected boom in technician jobs, there remains a stigma around hands-on careers. According to Jobber’s Blue-Collar Report in 2023, 74% of Gen Z respondents indicated a significant stigma associated with vocational schools and trades. Notably, only 5% expressed that their parents wanted them to pursue vocational school. This bias — often rooted in how parents view the trades — can discourage potential workers from exploring promising opportunities. The result? An even wider skills gap.
Fortunately, and despite these negatives, there are optimistic signs on the ground. Stories abound of individuals who have embraced hands-on careers and transformed their lives.
Take Alex Dickey, a former high school dropout who now holds an internship at Intel. His educational journey hasn’t been typical. After leaving high school, he made the decision to return and pursue a career in mechatronics, a field that blends computer science, robotics, and automation.
“I made a mistake, but then I went back. And I realized, all right, this is the right move,” Dickey says in retrospect.
Alex’s turnaround is a testament to the power of skills-based learning. His journey from dropout to securing an internship in a cutting-edge field like mechatronics is an example of how upskilling and reskilling in trade courses can lead to life-changing opportunities.
There are countless others like Alex who are poised to fill the talent shortage by contributing their skills to industries that are in desperate need of qualified workers.
To support this growing trend and address the skilled talent shortage, Unmudl is introducing initiatives like the Techs of Tomorrow Expo, an event aimed at connecting individuals with the training and resources they need to succeed in technician roles.
The Techs of Tomorrow Expo (ToT) is put on in collaboration with community and technical colleges across the nation. It’s part conference, part career fair but above all things, it’s an immersive learning experience. For a few hours, students and community members can step into the world of a technician — sometimes for the first time — and gain practical insights into these careers.
The inaugural ToT event was held this summer at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) in Albuquerque. Attendees heard from a panel of major employers like Amazon, Intel, General Mills, and Maxeon, toured labs where hands-on training takes place, and explored insights from experts in AI and automation.
Curious participants asked questions, gathered essential information, and made important connections. But perhaps most of all, many were exposed to how unexpectedly accessible these jobs can be, some requiring only a 10-week online training program to begin.
For employers, such industry gatherings offer a solution to the pressing issue of a skilled workforce shortage. By engaging with these initiatives, companies can connect with potential candidates and address their talent needs more effectively.
“At Amazon, we recognize that the strength of our business is directly tied to the skills of our workforce. That’s why events like the Techs of Tomorrow Expo are so crucial — they allow us to connect with and support the next generation of skilled professionals who will drive our industry forward,” said Amanda Willard, Strategic Workforce Development at Amazon.
Colleges, in turn, benefit by showcasing their commitment to meeting industry demands and preparing students for high-demand roles.
“Events like the Techs of Tomorrow Expo help community colleges strengthen our partnerships with employers. At the same time, learners benefit greatly from employers providing real examples of a ‘day in the life’ of a technician as our community colleges are on hand to provide the access, support and clear pathways to that career,” said CNM President Tracy Hartzler.
“These events can go a long way in helping learners embrace a career they may have never considered before, while helping community colleges and employers join forces to address skilled workforce gaps.”
The technician talent shortage will not be solved overnight. Furthermore, no single solution will address the problem. But employers and community colleges joining forces across the country to educate and inspire learners about these opportunities is showing real promise. With enough collaboration and local engagement, a sustainable pipeline of skilled technicians may be within reach.
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