From Steve Minter in The Global Manufacturer
The Critical Shortage Facing US Manufacturers
Optimism is on the rise among US manufacturers, according to the latest quarterly PwC Manufacturing Barometer, but one critical shortage is still bedeviling the manufacturing community – the lack of skilled workers.
More than three out of four (77%) manufacturers told PwC they had a need to fill certain skill gaps over the next 12 to 24 months. Half the companies surveyed said they had open positions they were unable to fill with skilled workers.
The skills gap continues even as manufacturers report a sharp uptick in their hiring plans. Some 58% of manufacturers plan to add employees over the next year, up 16% from the last quarterly survey conducted by PwC.
Rising optimism about the global economy and sales is helping fuel the hiring plans. The survey found 82% of U.S. manufacturers expect to see their revenues increase in the next 12 months. Some 60% are optimistic about the U.S. economy, while 40% expressed optimism about the global economy (up from 31% in the prior quarter).