MN Manufacturing Quick Poll

We polled 1,000 workers age 18 to 40 in Minnesota about whether they would consider a career in manufacturing, why, and what manufacturers can do to better attract them. Here’s what they said.

How would you rate your perception of careers in manufacturing?

70%

30%

WHY?

Offers competitive compensation and benefits Provides employees with rewarding/fulfilling work Is a place I feel I could have a long-term career Is forward-thinking and modern Offers a work culture that I like/identify with

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Is not a place I feel I could have a long-term career Does not offer a work culture that I like/identify with Does not provide employees with rewarding/fulfilling work Does not offer competitive compensation and benefits Is not socially conscious or solving problems to better the world

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Positive

Negative

70%

30%

Positive

Negative

WHY?

Would you ever consider working in the manufacturing industry?*

44%

*Survey participants who currently work in manufacturing did not answer this question

The answer changes if they have had more exposure to manufacturing careers.

56%

YES

What could manufacturing companies do to be more attractive places to work?

Offer more competitive compensation and benefits

Provide clearly defined career advancement opportunities

Make the working environment safer

Recruit young talent more actively

Prove job security, even in the face of AI advancement

Form a more diverse workforce

Implement new cutting-edge technologies

Make the workplace more fun

Change the overall industry culture to be more modern/forward-thinking

Nothing

Offer more competitive compensation and benefits

49%

Provide clearly defined career advancement opportunities

44%

Make the working environment safer

42%

Prove job security, even in the face of AI advancement

41%

Make the workplace more fun

35%

Recruit young talent more actively

30%

Change the overall industry culture to be more modern/forward-thinking

27%

Form a more diverse workforce

21%

Implement new cutting-edge technologies

19%

Nothing

#10

Minnesotans primarily view manufacturers as tech-savvy and tech-forward. But, that affects their perception of long-term career viability.

3 in 4 believe

manufacturers will use technology to its fullest potential

Young Minnesotans (18-40 years old) are invested in the future of manufacturing, and most perceive the industry positively—but 44% would not consider careers there

Minnesotans believe manufacturing companies are tech-forward, but the rise of automation holds them back from pursuing long-term careers in the industry

Early education and awareness of manufacturing careers drives interest

2-Minute Takedown

Automation will replace jobs

But, it will create new job opportunities in areas like customer service, technology, and engineering

Manufacturers need to prove long-term job security, in the face of AI advancement

ALL PARTICIPANTS

I HAVE FAMILY EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING

I Learned about manufacturing in my youth

ALL PARTICIPANTS

62%

YES

38%

ALL PARTICIPANTS

I HAVE FAMILY EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING

I Learned about manufacturing in my youth

I HAVE FAMILY EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING

65%

YES

35%

ALL PARTICIPANTS

I HAVE FAMILY EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING

I Learned about manufacturing in my youth

I HAVE FAMILY EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING

ALL PARTICIPANTS

I Learned about manufacturing in my youth

I HAVE FAMILY EMPLOYED IN MANUFACTURING

I Learned about manufacturing in my youth

50%

48%

42%

97%

Yes

Is manufacturing important to Minnesota?

50%

Manufacturing will be #1 in the state for jobs

50%

Manufacturing will be supassed by a different industry

What does the future of manufacturing look like in Minnesota?

Jobs

39%

Manufacturing will attract fresh, young talent

61%

Manufacturing will struggle from an aging workforce

Age

Young Minnesotans generally view manufacturers as tech-forward—the industry should home in on this perception and leverage it. Tell the story around how a digital shop floor is creating newer, safer, and more innovative career paths in the industry. Educate the market on automation's role in fueling, not hindering, long-term careers.

What can manufacturing companies do about it?

Reframe the story around technology in manufacturing

Educate young people, earlier

Define the employee experience

Reframe the story around technology in manufacturing

Educate young people, earlier

Define the employee experience

Reframe the story around technology in manufacturing

What can manufacturing companies do about it?

It's human to be afraid of the unknown: 57% didn't learn about manufacturing careers before they turned 18, and 63% don't have a close relative employed in the industry. Awareness is a key driver of interest and comfort in the industry. Reinforce and build new trade programs focused on using advanced manufacturing technologies. Become an integral part of the youth and educational community.

Educate young people, earlier

What can manufacturing companies do about it?

The employee experience is relatively unknown—but before you communicate it, define it. Identify skill gaps in your company to help design roles of the future. Create a "north star" for your company’s own culture, and align employees to the greater mission of your company.

Define the employee experience

About the survey participants

Age

County

Industry

Despite offering the second-highest wages in Minnesota, manufacturers are losing young talent to other burgeoning industries like healthcare and high tech. And, as fewer high school and college grads pursue careers in manufacturing, the state’s largest private-sector industry is struggling to recruit and retain the talent it needs for the digital future.

Hennepin Ramsey Dakota Anoka Louis

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

26.3% 11.2% 7.3% 6.2% 3.6%

Top 5

See All

23%

14%

26%

10%

42%

48%

18-20 years 21-30 years 31-40 years

Aitkin Anoka Becker Beltrami Benton Big Stone Blue Earth Brown Carlton Carver Cass Chippewa Chisago Clay Clearwater Cook Cottonwood Crow Wing Dakota Dodge Douglas Faribault Fillmore Freeborn Goodhue Grant Hennepin Houston Hubbard Isanti Itasca Jackson Kanabec Kandiyohi Kittson Koochiching Lac qui Parle Lake Lake of the Woods Le Sueur Lincoln Lyon Mahnomen Marshall Martin

McLeod Meeker Mille Lacs Morrison Mower Murray Nicollet Nobles Norman Olmsted Otter Tail Pennington Pine Pipestone Polk Pope Ramsey Red Lake Redwood Renville Rice Rock Roseau Scott Sherburne Sibley Louis Stearns Steele Stevens Swift Todd Traverse Wabasha Wadena Waseca Washington Watonwan Wilkin Winona Wright Yellow Medicine

Mahnomen Marshall Martin McLeod Meeker Mille Lacs Morrison Mower Murray Nicollet Nobles Norman Olmsted Otter Tail Pennington Pine Pipestone Polk Pope Ramsey Red Lake

Redwood Renville Rice Rock Roseau Scott Sherburne Sibley Louis Stearns Steele Stevens Swift Todd Traverse Wabasha Wadena Waseca Washington Watonwan Wilkin

Winona Wright Yellow Medicine

0.30% 6.20% 0.50% 1.30% 1.20% 0.10% 2.80% 0.50% 0.10% 1.40% 1.00% 0.20% 0.90% 0.50% 0.00% 0.30% 0.20% 1.70% 7.30% 0.10% 1.50% 0.10% 0.20% 0.40% 0.70% 0.00% 26.30% 0.50% 0.20% 0.70% 0.70% 0.10% 0.20% 0.20% 0.20% 0.30% 0.00% 0.10% 0.00% 0.30% 0.20% 0.20% 0.20% 0.10% 0.70%

0.50% 0.10% 0.20% 0.80% 0.60% 0.20% 0.70% 0.20% 0.00% 2.90% 1.00% 0.10% 0.30% 0.30% 1.10% 0.00% 11.20% 0.00% 0.40% 0.20% 1.10% 0.20% 0.10% 1.70% 1.50% 0.10% 3.60% 3.10% 0.60% 0.00% 0.00% 0.20% 0.00% 0.30% 0.30% 0.20% 3.00% 0.30% 0.00% 0.60% 1.50% 0.10%

0.20% 0.10% 0.70% 0.50% 0.10% 0.20% 0.80% 0.60% 0.20% 0.70% 0.20% 0.00% 2.90% 1.00% 0.10% 0.30% 0.30% 1.10% 0.00% 11.20% 0.00%

0.40% 0.20% 1.10% 0.20% 0.10% 1.70% 1.50% 0.10% 3.60% 3.10% 0.60% 0.00% 0.00% 0.20% 0.00% 0.30% 0.30% 0.20% 3.00% 0.30% 0.00%

0.60% 1.50% 0.10%

See All

Healthcare/Life Sciences/ Medical Device

23%

14%

26%

Manufacturing/Industrial Products

Distribution/Logistics

Professional Services

Real Estate/Construction

Financial Services/Banking

Retail

Education

Tech

Other

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Define the employee experience

BUT

*Industry respondent currently works in