Manufacturers Concerned About 2008

12/31/2007

Manufacturers Concerned About 2008


Paul Munnis,
The Rochester Democrat
December 31, 2008


A new survey, “Understanding the Worker Needs of Manufacturers,” by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) also offers insights into the state’s manufacturing environment.

The survey queried Minnesota manufacturers with 250 employees or less.

Some key findings:

• 66 percent of respondents noted that a "high-performance workforce" is the number one factor for firm success;


• 52 percent had positions unfilled due to lack of qualified applicants and also indicated a moderate or serious shortage of workers overall;


• Respondents expected the workforce shortage to be more significant three years from now.

Worker shortages by region are reported as:

NE – 44%, NW – 62%, CENTRAL – 53%, TWIN CITIES – 48%, SE – 51%, SW – 63%.

It is high skilled scientists and engineers who are in the shortest supply while there are plenty of low-skilled workers.

Respondents expect things to be significantly worse three years from now.

The most frequently used methods of recruiting and retaining of key skills are improved wages and higher benefits.

The companies themselves are only moderately engaged in providing training. They seek to recruit people already possessing needed skills.

Training and skills that are most lacking, in rank order, are:

1. Computer skills;


2. Basic employability skills;


3. Technical skills;


4. Problem Solving skills;


5. Process improvement skills,


6. Supervisory / Managerial skills;


7. Working on a team;


8. Print reading skills;


9. Customer Service skills;


10. Reading, Writing, Communication skills;


11. Math;


12. English Fluency;


13. Innovation and Creativity Skills.

Technical and vocational schools provide the most effective training according to 67% of the respondents.