Two million positions in the manufacturing sector could be left unfulfilled over the next decade unless steps are taken to start filling the talent pipeline, according to a report released by Deloitte.

To help proactively attract potential talent and bring awareness to the industry, the AEM developed a tool kit for manufacturers and industry partners to use in outreach to their local schools and communities recruiting the next generation of skilled workers. The tool kit was developed over the past several months in response to the workforce shortage affecting the equipment sector – including manufacturers, distributors, operators, and other industry segments.

The tool kit can be accessed at http://www.aem.org/workforce-development-toolkit/.

“With the skills gap this industry is facing, we need to collectively act or risk losing another generation of talent,” explained Vermeer Corp. Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer and AEM Workforce Development Task Force Chair, Mark Core. “This industry offers good-paying jobs and exciting career paths, and we need to do a better job of telling that story in classrooms and our communities.”

AEM worked in close consultation with a task force of equipment manufacturers, dealers and education experts to develop the tool kit. The ideas, activities and sample materials can be customized and applied to workforce development outreach efforts undertaken by any segment of the industry, including equipment distributors and dealers, operators and other industry stakeholders.

“Equipment manufacturers wanted to develop a resource they could use themselves, but also one they could share with their customer groups and end-users to showcase the opportunities available throughout the industry – whether on the shop floor, at a dealership, or on a job site,” said AEM President Dennis Slater. “This tool kit provides actionable ideas, resources, and support for employers in the equipment sector to kick start their outreach, or build on what they already have underway when it comes to recruiting our future workforce.”

The tool kit is one component of AEM’s overall workforce development program, which also includes a webinar series featuring subject matter experts from a variety of related topics such as veterans hiring, apprenticeships, and third-party partnerships, as well as a scholarship initiative for educators seeking certification to teach equipment-specific courses to high school students.

About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) – www.aem.org

AEM is the North American-based international trade group representing more than 950 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining, and utility sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 1.3 million jobs and contributes roughly $159 billion to the economy every year.