President's Message: “Filling the skills gap by showcasing careers in modern manufacturing to the future workforce…”

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the Manufacturing Institute (MI) have set aside the first Friday in October to commemorate National Manufacturing Day. Since 2012, the “Creators Wanted” initiative has showcased modern manufacturing to the next generation, working to fill the skills gap and inspire the future workforce.

Nationally, there are 900,000 open manufacturing jobs – and it’s predicted to widen to 4 million jobs by 2030. Currently, the average hourly wages exceed $24/hour nationally, with average annual salaries and benefits exceeding $88k. While our data is slightly below these national numbers, manufacturing plays a significant role in Maine’s economy. NAM’s website reports that the manufacturers in Maine account for 9.80% of the total output in the state, totaling $6.31 billion. Maine manufacturers also employ 8.41% of the workforce – approximately 53,000 employees (2019) who receive an average annual compensation of $66,694.24 (2018).

The message is simple: Maine has a rich, proud manufacturing legacy and a bright future in modern manufacturing. Today’s STEM graduates will power the next chapter of American production and innovation. Harnessing their potential is an economic imperative. The rich traditions of agriculture and manufacturing are deeply rooted in the “Yankee way of life.” Inspiring our young people to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering sets Maine manufacturers up for future success.