{"id":14504,"date":"2025-12-15T11:08:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/?p=14504"},"modified":"2025-12-15T11:08:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:08:19","slug":"how-to-advance-your-manufacturing-skills-and-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/how-to-advance-your-manufacturing-skills-and-career\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Advance Your Manufacturing Skills (and Career!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manufacturing is evolving faster than ever before. Once defined by manual labor and simple mechanical processes, today’s facilities are powered by automation, robotics, advanced materials, AI, and interconnected digital systems.<\/p>\n

The field remains a pillar of the U.S. economy, contributing roughly 10% of national GDP<\/a>, with more than 12.7 million Americans working<\/a> in this innovative, fast-paced sector. But there’s a significant problem: Employers can’t find workers<\/a> with the skills they need to fill these positions.<\/p>\n

Why now is the time for advanced manufacturing skills<\/h2>\n

Connecticut manufacturers face a critical challenge. Nearly two-thirds plan to hire additional employees in 2026, yet 82% of them cite skills gaps<\/a> as their biggest hiring obstacle. This isn’t a shortage of jobs; it’s a shortage of workers trained to do them.<\/p>\n

As Baby Boomers rapidly retire, they’re taking decades of institutional knowledge with them. Simultaneously, automation and digital systems have fundamentally changed the work required in manufacturing.<\/p>\n

The technician who can only operate a machine is no longer competitive. Today’s employers need workers who understand digital systems<\/a>, troubleshoot complex equipment, maintain quality standards, and adapt quickly as technology evolves.<\/p>\n

For workers willing to invest in their skills, this gap creates an enormous opportunity. Employers are actively seeking qualified manufacturing technicians<\/a>, and they’re willing to invest in the right candidates.<\/p>\n

For example, nearly 20% of Connecticut manufacturers<\/a> are offering apprenticeship support, 10% are providing tuition reimbursement<\/a>, and others are expanding bonuses for advancement. Your employer may fund your training, especially if it strengthens their team.<\/p>\n

What the data says about advanced manufacturing skills<\/h3>\n

Manufacturing remains one of Connecticut’s strongest and fastest-moving<\/a> industries. As of August 2025, more than 153,600 Connecticut residents<\/a> were employed in manufacturing roles, and the sector contributed $34.21 billion to the state’s<\/a> GDP. Yet the hiring challenge is clear.<\/p>\n

Here’s what’s shifted in employer preferences:<\/p>\n