Ninety-one percent of manufacturing businesses are experiencing challenges finding qualified employees, according to the annual Federal Government Advocacy Survey conducted by the National Tooling and Machining Association and the Precision Metalforming Association.
Responses came from 199 metalworking manufacturers who averaged 77 employees in 2012. These manufacturers supply components, tools, and other products and services to the agriculture, aerospace, appliance, automotive, defense, electronics, energy, medical, transportation, and other industries.
42% of the companies having trouble finding workers are having severe challenges.
49% of the companies having trouble finding workers are having moderate challenges.
- 69% of surveyed manufacturing businesses currently have job openings.
- 81% of companies with openings have between one and five jobs available.
- 14% of companies with job openings have between six and 10 jobs available.
- 5% of companies with job openings have more than 11 jobs available.
- On average, respondents to this survey report planning to hire eight employees in 2013 – an estimated 10% workforce increase.
- 60% of these small and medium sized manufacturing businesses anticipate increased sales in 2013 with over 56% of those expecting a more than 10% increase in sales.