Millenials & Manufacturing

Raise your hand if your family wanted you to be an Engineer.

Raise your hand if your family is okay with you working at a manufacturing unit.

Unfortunately, a large number of people who raised a hand for the first statement must've put it down for the second. More and more youth are coming out of engineering colleges every year. More and more don't want to work in a factory. Currently, the sector comprises of just 12 % of total employment- well below its potential. A report by the Indian Brand Equity Foundation projects growth in the jobs in the manufacturing sector. But given the dismal trend, the future's not far where there would be negative growth in the workforce involved in manufacturing. But why doesn't today's generation want to work in manufacturing? I'll try to break it down...

Most of the manufacturing industries, sparing automobiles or some mechanical components, especially chemical manufacturing happens in remote locations- away from the glitz and convenience of cities. Who'd rather work in a plant in a rural state in a remote location where decent restaurants are also a rarity rather than in a posh corporate office which is steps away from high-end pubs and malls! Students who have either grown in urban cities or did their graduation from such colleges would find it difficult to adjust there. Students who come from a rural background would want to get out of there.

The working conditions are another factor. Working in shifts, toiling in a non-air-conditioned factory is definitely not something someone would like today. Isn't it better to rather have a nice office space and table tennis in relaxing areas! The corporate offices have succeeded in selling the monotony of an office life packaged in pretty office spaces!

Students work hard to get into a good college to get nice white-collar jobs. We are conditioned to do so- by our family, our society, our education system. We are told about doctors, lawyers, salesmen, and managers. But no one talks about the hands that actually create wealth. How many times have your parent/teacher pointed at a blue collared employee and told you to work hard so that you don't have to work like him?! We have books and blogs and Netflix specials about chefs and marketing managers and lawyers (oh so many!) and even organized criminals. But the representation of the manufacturing profession in any of this media that is consumed by the youth today is marginal. What will inspire a growing child to go and work in a factory then!

Finally, at the core of young people's disinterest in manufacturing and factory work is the belief that this work is dull and unrewarding—for the individual and the community. The older generation didn't think much of what job they were doing until it was bringing in money. But today the youth is more interested in creating impact through their work. They are seeking a larger meaning. To better engage youth, manufacturers have to focus on aspects of manufacturing jobs that involve creativity and innovative ideas and have to highlight how their company is creating change in the community.

Instead of advertising manufacturing jobs with the selling points of high pay and job demand, centers on how these careers offer a dynamic, meaningful, and purposeful line of work.

Not every college graduate might have the opportunity to understand the soul and philosophy of manufacturing, but can still be reached through the right platforms and with the right points that make us all passionate about working. Manufacturing is the backbone of the economy. Unless and until they create wealth, there would be no bankers to distribute that wealth, no fintech, or investment firms to manage it and no lawyers to fight over it! If millennials have a chance to learn that manufacturing work is the future, where their ideas and imaginative minds have a place, there will be more of a response and eagerness to fill these jobs. The worry about why youngsters are turning to IT and corporates is real and need to be addressed urgently and mindfully.