The manufacturing industry makes up 9% of the US workforce, one of the largest industries in the country. Yet hiring managers in manufacturing are facing a crisis in finding enough skilled workers to fill their open positions. According to data from the Manufacturing Institute, nearly 80% of manufacturing executives say the shortage for skilled workers is moderate to severe.
This skills gap, as it’s aptly named, will have far-reaching consequences for the industry. It already takes an average of 70 days to fill positions for production workers, and for the average US manufacturer, leaving positions unfilled can lead to an 11% loss of annual revenue.
With an aging workforce nearing retirement, manufacturers are turning to younger generations to fill skilled positions. In fact, hiring managers are turning to training programs more and more as a way to close the skills gap by developing the skills of a younger generation of workers.
Many manufacturing companies have turned to pre-employment tests as a way to identify job candidates who are most likely to learn quickly, pick up new skills, and adapt on the job. Tests provide insight into a person’s aptitude to succeed on the job.
Particularly for the manufacturing industry, tests that measure mechanical aptitude allow you to identify candidates who have the aptitude to learn the operation, maintenance, and servicing of tools, equipment, and machinery. Job candidates who demonstrate high mechanical aptitude are more likely to excel in a manufacturing role, and companies that screen for mechanical aptitude typically experience higher productivity, better training completion rates, and lower turnover.
To learn more about how pre-hire testing can help you identify the best manufacturing candidates, download the guide.
