The victory of Republican presidential bet, Donald Trump, in the recent presidential elections comes with the soon fulfillment of his promise to resurrect the withered manufacturing sector. Prior to 1980s, the sector is bustling with eight-hour-a-day workers striving with a profitable yet laborious job while possessing only a high school diploma.
But now, times have changed and so are the industry's demands. Unlike in the '80s, most manufacturing jobs now require a higher degree of education. While Donald Trump's aim to revive the industry is a shot to the moon, it can be achieved through apprenticeship programs, which will help workers earn in-demand skills.
Jeffrey Selingo wrote in a Washington Post piece that globalization and advancement of technology make Donald Trump's pre-election promise hard to achieve. Manufacturing houses now require only fewer people to do the production. Machines, if any, now necessitate high-tech skills that some are only able to get a post-high school education.
Citing a mobile technology company as an example, Siemens was said to have a hard time sifting through thousands of applicants for a manufacturing post. Apparently, the applicants, mostly high school graduates, lack the skills fit for the job.
Vast numbers of manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania have moved to Mexico and other countries. That will end when I win!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2016
What the company did was adapt a German model for apprenticeship. Siemens hired high school graduates to work for the company while attending school. As they finish their degree, they get at least $55,000 starting salary and no student debt.
Per Center for American Progress, Federal Reserve Bank of New York announced in August that mid-wage jobs will make a comeback after years of indolence. When the Great Depression hit the United States, highest-earning and lowest-earning workers had a chance to recover for the last 25 years and this left mid-wage workers (like those in the manufacturing sector) behind.
If mid-wage jobs increase in number, it can indicate that the economy strengthens. As the number of mid-range jobs is expected to rise in the coming months, Industry Week sees apprenticeship programs as the answer to the skills gap. More than three million manufacturing jobs are waiting to be filled in the next two decades.
More than half of these jobs are expected to be unoccupied due to skills gap--this lack of capable workforce members can be mended through apprenticeship programs. However, while it can indeed help workers to get in-demand skills, apprenticeship offers from companies are near to defunct.
Do you think apprenticeship programs will be helpful for Donald Trump's plan of boosting the economy through mid-wage jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below!
