Manufacturing Labor: The Crisis Continues

After wreaking havoc on our families, the economy, and the overall social fabric of countries around the world, COVID is abating.  Or at least we are learning to live with a pandemic hanging over our collective heads.  According to an article in Deloitte Insights, the North American economies are recovering, and demand is ahead of pre-COVID levels.  All good – but what about manufacturing labor?  When COVID exploded in March 2020, we were struggling to find workers, skilled or entry level, for manufacturing jobs in all industries.  And where are we today?  Deeper in the hole!

In March 2020, finding and retaining a quality workforce was the #1 problem reported in a survey by the National Association of Manufacturers.  Flash forward to January 2022 and that issue has dropped to #3, exceeded only by supply chain challenges and increasing raw material costs.  But labor remains a significant challenge, with 85% of the survey respondents reporting open positions that they are unable to fill.

Source: National Association of Manufacturers