Industry News: Gen Z and the Industrial Traded Sector

As Gen Z workers (born between 1997 and 2012) flood the workforce replacing Boomers and Gen X, industry jobs have not been enjoying the spoils of these added workers. With more production returning to the US, companies are focusing on attracting this new work force, especially since there are currently over 600,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs in the US, according to the US Dept of Commerce.

In his article Gen Z and Industry, David Greenfield suggests that changing Gen Z perceptions of industry work could go a long way to attracting them.

A survey was conducted of over 2,000 Gen Zs by Soter Analytics, a global safety technology company, to help industries understand this new group from the lense of an employee.  Only 14% would consider industrial work a viable career path. Industry perceptions of Gen Zs that influence this low percentage include unsafe working conditions, low pay, inflexible hours and minimal benefits.

Other survey results speak to ways industries could specifically address this Gen Z demographic to mitigate these perceptions. Consider the following:

32% say a clear promotion path would be of interest to them.

29% say above-average pay would incentivize them to consider.

40% consider a flexible workday of high value (26% believe industry work schedules are too rigid).

27% of Gen Zs want the company to be up to date with technology and on the forefront of new technologies. They want to feel equipped with new technologies and want to know their company embraces them.

Gen Zs will be filling this industry’s workforce for years to come so what are the next steps to take? Consider packaging an approach that mitigates their perceptions and addresses their top three interests of career path, flexibility, and technology.

Read the entire 12/12/2023 article here