According to the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA), there are “literally thousands” of unfilled, well-paying career opportunities within manufacturing facilities across the state. These careers are available to high school and college graduates, as well as those with advanced levels of education or work experience – and they are available right now. A previous CBIA survey revealed that the state’s manufacturing sector needs 13,000 skilled workers by the end of 2019. You may be wondering, why aren’t these jobs getting filled?
One of the most common myths surrounding the manufacturing field is that it is an outdated, old-line industry. Many believe the jobs are mostly physical, the working environments are dirty, and the day-to-day labor is the same. In truth, modern manufacturing careers are just the opposite.
What many people do not know is the modern manufacturing industry of the 21st century, and all the jobs that it offers to creative, aspiring workers. So, as a manufacturing school that focuses on cutting-edge careers, sustainable processes, and state-of-the-art technologies, we’re here to enlighten you.
What is Modern Manufacturing?
Modern manufacturing is a cleaner, leaner, and greener industry than we once knew. In fact, it is cleaner and healthier than many office buildings today, writes the CBIA. Gone are the days of dangerous, heavy-duty machinery and hazardous processes. Today, modern manufacturing environments are filled with advanced technologies, computer-aided machines, and progressive software programs – This has taken a lot of the laborious work out of production, and allowed manufacturing professionals to focus on the things that matter: innovation, precision, and quality.
In a modern manufacturing workplace, employees work as teams to solve problems and produce high-quality goods. They imagine ideas together, and later bring them to reality using technology like digital blueprints and design software. Today’s manufacturing professionals work with their hands, with their minds, and with state-of-the-art equipment, to create.
It is for these reasons that knowledge-based imagination, combined with critical-thinking and technical skills, is becoming one of the most sought-after skills with the next generation of workers. Despite popular belief, it is not necessarily “easy” or “simple” to get a manufacturing job in the 21st century. Today, you must come equipped with the knowledge, the skills, and the drive to succeed. And with those boxes checked off, you can expect to do just that: succeed.
Manufacturing has long-been a driver of success for the economy. In the state of Connecticut, for example, manufacturing is one of the largest contributors to the state’s gross product. Across the state, there are more than 4,000 manufacturing firms, and within those, more than 159,000 avid manufacturing professionals. On average, these employees make more than $95,000 per year – and some sectors, such as aerospace, pay six figures annually.
Modern Manufacturing Careers
Growing up, you may not have realized the potential of manufacturing. You may not have known that manufacturing is a thriving field with a variety of innovative, rewarding, and high-paying careers. But now you know, they are there – and they are attainable with the right steps taken.
In fact, Connecticut manufacturers and schools across the state are streamlining the path to land a manufacturing career, because they want you! Skilled workers are in high-demand, and manufacturers are hiring those who come equipped with education and experience in the field. As a result, high schools and colleges are partnering with local manufacturing facilities to connect students with careers – not just jobs – upon graduation.
For example, Goodwin College partners with manufacturing employers throughout Connecticut, helping grads transition from college to a career with relative ease. The accelerated manufacturing certificate program accelerates this process – educating students and connecting them to successful manufacturing careers in as little as 22.5 weeks. Goodwin College’s early college magnet high school, Connecticut River Academy, also offers an advanced manufacturing pathway to link high school students to more opportunities for manufacturing education and pursuits.
It’s time to recognize – and to embrace – the modern field of manufacturing. This is a resurgence, and it is also the new norm. Manufacturing has come along way, and so have the career opportunities it offers to aspiring and creative thinkers. To learn about starting on your career, or to request more info about the manufacturing and machining programs at Goodwin College, please call 800-889-3282. You may also visit us online!
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.