An Untapped Resource for Easing the Skilled Worker Shortage

Inclusion Manufacturing Camps help to shine the spotlight on individuals with disabilities, who bring more to the table than most employers realize

Manufacturing has come roaring back in the U.S. since the days of the pandemic. A desire to have more stable supply chains has caused many companies to invest in their own facilities or develop relationships with existing manufacturing service providers. Amidst these headlines, however, there is a major challenge for manufacturing companies as they look to maximize their opportunities during this economic expansion: finding workers.

A 2021 study of more than 800 U.S.-based manufacturing leaders from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute estimated that by 2023 the U.S. could see 2.1 million unfilled jobs. The study concluded the cost of those missing jobs could result in $1 trillion in additional costs to manufacturers in 2030 alone.

The dearth of qualified candidates for manufacturing jobs isn’t going to be resolved any time soon. In the “Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey: First Quarter 2024” from the National Association of Manufacturers, 65% of those surveyed still cite the inability to attract and retain employees as their top primary challenge. With unemployment hovering around 4% and the labor force participation rate holding at the same level (62.7% in April) for the past 12 months, the battle to attract workers is only going to get more intense.

That’s why it’s time for manufacturing companies to think outside of the box and consider an untapped resource for employees.

Under-the-Radar Contributors

U.S. Census Bureau data from 2021 reveals that about 42.5 million citizens live with disabilities. These are people with hearing, vision, or cognitive difficulties or who just struggle living independently. They make up about 13% of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

Yet, even with these disabilities, many of these individuals can be contributors in a structured manufacturing environment. They take guidance well, want to do a good job, and enjoy the routines associated with typical manufacturing processes.

In 2019, Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (NBT), the foundation of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, recognized industry’s need for workers and this untapped pool of manufacturing talent. As part of its mission to engage, nurture, and excite individuals of all ages in the pursuit of manufacturing careers, NBT launched the idea of inclusion camps, introducing youths with disabilities to the world of manufacturing with the hopes that they can find an outlet for their talents.

What started with two camps in 2022 has now grown to seven camps this year. The expansion is made possible with grants provided by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other donors.

“This program allows NBT to assist more transition-age individuals with disabilities to learn essential workplace skills and prepare them for jobs in the manufacturing industry,” said Ed Dernulc, NBT Foundation director. “These camps not only open doors to potential employment opportunities that may have otherwise been inaccessible to participants, but the camps also help to increase awareness among manufacturers of an often-overlooked prospective employee pool.”

In 2024, the seven Inclusion Manufacturing Camps will be held in seven states, with the camps in Alabama, Michigan, and New York being first-time hosts:

The Haven, Sarasota, Fla., June 3-28
Eaton Regional Education Service Agency, Charlotte, Mich., June 4 – Aug. 1
Teach the Autism Community Trades, Englewood, Colo., June 10 – Aug. 9
Jasper City Schools Success Program, Jasper, Ala., June 17 – July 17
Hudson Valley Community College, Troy, N.Y., July 8-18
Boone Center Inc., St. Peters, Mo., July 15 – Aug. 9
VPI Inc., Appleton, Wis., July 29 – Aug. 23

What Can Campers Expect?

Generally, the Inclusion Manufacturing Camps are structured so that the attendees get a feel for what it’s like to work in a manufacturing environment. They get trained to work with equipment and with others, reinforcing not only the technical skills that are necessary in manufacturing, but also the soft skills that prove so important in creating a good work environment. The campers also have the opportunity to visit other facilities to see what other manufacturing environments might look like.

VPI, which will be hosting its third year of Inclusion Manufacturing Camps this summer, has attendees involved in the creation of specialized packaging for durable goods and retail displays made from corrugated fiberboard. Over the program’s four weeks, campers might find themselves working a machine that creates paper coils, on a line that cuts laminates to size, or in a cell that creates packaging kits for a nearby manufacturer.

“We work very hard at figuring out what these people want to do. We place people in the community and place people here [at VPI],” said Tim Riebau, VPI president and CEO.

Win-Win Scenario

VPI specializes in creating an environment where young people with disabilities can come in and learn how to work on a shop floor. But it’s also proven successful in preparing its campers for life at other manufacturing facilities. In one such instance, VPI supplies workers for a specialty line at a nearby manufacturer that calls for consistent performance of a task and some attention to detail as products are packed.

The successful introduction of these enthusiastic workers to the shop floor is a win for the manufacturer and the young person. The manufacturing company is able to add a reliable contributor, and the young person is able to take a step toward a more independent life.

Studies have shown that youth with disabilities who have an experience like that provided by the NBT Inclusion Manufacturing Camps, where they are given responsibilities and are required to make a substantial time commitment, are more likely to be employed as young adults. They get to enjoy the same opportunities that others have discovered when they finally settle upon a career path in manufacturing. To learn more about the NBT Inclusion Manufacturing Camps, visit www.fmamfg.org/foundation/inclusion