Advice for Employers and Recruiters
Manufacturing Industries Challenged by Gen Y Workers
sarah ennengaManufacturing is another huge sector of the global economy that is being forced to reinvent their traditional employment strategies to accommodate younger workers. Not seen as a glamor industry, employers need to retool their labor practices to attract, manage, and retain top young talent.
Below is an excerpt of a great article offering advice for those facing these particular challenges, provided by a one of the leading consulting firms in the world.
Global manufacturers are forgetting a growing segment of their workforce—Generation Y. That’s the conclusion of “Managing the Talent Crisis in Global Manufacturing: Strategies to Attract and Engage Generation Y,” the latest industry report from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. By 2025, Generation Y, defined by Deloitte as those born between 1982 and 1993, and younger generations will comprise 40 to 60 percent of the global workforce. The report offers some points to keep in mind:
- Gen Yers overall have a negative image of manufacturing. In recruitment efforts you might want to try emphasizing Deloitte’s view of the modern manufacturing sector. “What Gen Y doesn’t know is that, contrary to common perception, the job of a modern manufacturing worker requires strong technology, flexibility, multitasking, and team problem-solving skills,” a press release issued by Deloitte states.
- Shifting operations to emerging markets doesn’t simplify the Gen Y talent squeeze. To succeed in new markets such as India, China, and Brazil, Deloitte recommends you take a long-term approach to cost and benefits; understand the available skills sets and the changing demographic profile in these countries; and formulate strategies to engage potential talent.
- Consider how to effectively give Gen Yers what they most value on the job, the report recommends. That includes long-term career development and multiple experiences within a single organization, availability and access to mentors across the company, work-life flexibility, a tech-savvy work environment, and open social networks that facilitate communication.
Courtesy of WhysBlog
