In a world filled with tech-driven careers, there is still a huge demand for skilled, hands-on work making quality, tangible goods for consumers. And manufacturing is the booming industry that continues to grow in the face of all-things high-tech. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing has the most jobs of any goods-producing industry in the United States. If you’re looking for an exciting career that gives you a productive day, not spent at a desk, in front of a computer screen, you may be interested in the field of manufacturing.
But what types of manufacturing jobs are available in Connecticut today? And what do they entail? Are they factory jobs working with heavy machinery, or is there more to today’s manufacturing career options?
Manufacturing workers play a pivotal role in shaping the modern world. In an age of advanced technology and flourishing innovations, manufacturing stands at the heart of it. Today, manufacturing jobs are filled by creators, innovators, mathematicians and engineers. Their work involves everything from mechanical design to mathematics, computer programming to quality control, high-tech machinery to powerful, hands-on work. Gone are the days of the gritty factory environment. Let’s explore some of the modern careers that are available to today’s manufacturing school graduates.
There are several different types of manufacturing jobs, many of which can be found right here in Connecticut. Goodwin College has both certificate-level and degree programs available to students looking to break into this exciting career. Graduates of our Manufacturing Management program (Bachelor’s degree) have moved on to pursue careers in the following positions:
- Logistician
- Maintenance Supervisor
- Manufacturing Supervisor
- Production Planner
- Inventory Manager
- First-Line Supervisor
- Inspection Supervisor
- Purchasing Agent
- Quality Manager
- Safety Supervisor
- Shipping & Receiving Supervisor
- Human Resources Administrator
Graduates of Goodwin’s Associate Degree programs – for example, Quality Control and Supply Chain Management – have pursued the following types of manufacturing jobs:
- Calibration Technician
- Manufacturing Quality Inspector
- Cargo & Freight Manager
- Quality Auditor
- Quality Technician
- Quality Supervisor
- Receiving Inspector
- Logistics Analyst
- Maintenance Supervisor
- Procurement Specialist
- Production Control Analyst
- Storage & Distribution Manager
- Supply Chain Manager
- Traffic Coordinator
- Warehouse Manager
Graduates from Goodwin’s CNC Machinist Training programs have gone on to the following professions:
- CNC Machine Programming
- CNC Machine Set-up
- CNC Machinist (Lathe and Mill)
- CNC Operator (Lathe and Mill)
- Manual Machine Operator
The Types of Manufacturing Jobs in Need of Skilled Workers
The Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) recently unveiled its 2017 Survey of Connecticut Manufacturing Workforce Needs – asking state manufacturers about their workforce challenges and hiring expectations for the next three years. And, in this study, there was plenty of good news for those in the manufacturing field, as well as those looking to launch their career in the industry.
Manufacturing is one of the largest contributors to Connecticut’s gross state product – meaning there is plenty room for workers. In fact, Connecticut is home to 4,011 manufacturing firms that employ over 159,000 workers in the state. That represents 9.5 percent of all nonfarm jobs!
Participants of 14 different types of manufacturing jobs in CBIA’s survey were asked to report the number of current openings, as well as the number of workers they plan to hire by the end of 2018.
From the companies looking to hire, the following job types were most likely to be filled:
- Entry-level production workers
- Warehousing and Distribution Staff
- Machinists
- CNC Machinists
- Mechanical/Manufacturing technicians
- Electrical/Electronic Technicians
- Quality Control Personnel
- Engineers
The positions considered toughest to fill, according to the survey respondents, included:
- Tool and Die Maker
- CNC Programmers
- Engineers
- CNC Machinists
- Machinists
- CAD/AM Technicians
- Electrical/Electronic Technicians
CBIA estimates 13,601 job openings statewide across these 14 job categories by the end of 2018.
Career Services with Goodwin
Our Career Services team here at Goodwin College, and our extensive network of manufacturing employers across the state, work to provide students and graduates a lifetime of career placement and counseling support — for free! Our team can help you with resume and cover letter writing, networking, workshops, mock interviewing, individual counseling, career fairs, and more. Our job isn’t finished until our graduates are in manufacturing jobs they love.
Interested in launching into one of Connecticut’s most flourishing fields? Request more information about Goodwin’s manufacturing training programs online or call 1-800-889-3282 to learn more.
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.