Since the days of the Founding Fathers, American entrepreneurship has set the innovation standard for the rest of the world. America's manufacturers have provided many of the products we take for granted -- from world class airplanes, automobiles, and household products to pre-packaged foods to stain-resistant fabrics. Our society -- and people across the planet -- have benefited from the technological edge provided by our country’s world-class manufacturers. 

Today, a shortage of skilled workers is a significant challenge facing American manufacturing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2020, we will face a skilled-worker shortage of 13 million. This deficit threatens to stunt development of new technologies and to forestall improvements to existing products. The result could weaken economic growth the world over. 

Several factors have contributed to this problem. Nearly 30% of people with science and engineering degrees in the labor force are age 50 or older. Those skilled Baby Boomers will continue to retire in the next 10 to 15 years. Additionally, the lightning-fast pace of technological advances across the globe and rising requirements for manufacturers mean professionals in the industry must be smarter and possess a wider range of skills. 

The solution to this problem seems simple: educate and train the next generation to fill these jobs. 

Industry leaders, however, say misperceptions among young people are keeping them out of these fields. When tomorrow’s workers hear the word "manufacturing," they envision heavy, dirty manual labor, rather than the high-tech, innovative careers that the field actually offers. In reality, manufacturing careers focus on problem-solving using math, science, and the most tech-savvy tools available. Professionals can choose to work in an array of industries: communications, computers, construction, energy, environment, machine-building, medicine, transportation, agriculture, and many others. 

Today’s students also seem unaware of the financial advantage to working in manufacturing: compensation for manufacturing jobs is nearly 30% higher than the average salary in South Carolina.  The surest ticket to the American dream is always hard, but the best pathway for that ticket is often a career in manufacturing.

Students also hold the misconception that manufacturing companies do not need them because those companies have sent their work offshore. Accordingly, many prospective skilled workers believe that careers in manufacturing are not as secure as careers in other fields. In reality, the jobs most often outsourced are lower-skilled positions. To continue to flourish, manufacturers want and need the world's best and brightest young people.

The myths aren’t difficult to debunk, but the question remains, “How can we replenish the workforce pipeline, maintain our manufacturing strength, and protect our economy?”

The answer begins with early education. We must reach students in lower grades to spark their interest in the math and science skills that are the building blocks of manufacturing jobs. Public-private partnerships at the local level are imperative to changing attitudes and encouraging kids at early ages to learn more about manufacturing and to begin preparing for these rewarding careers.  

An alliance of partners including AdvanceSC; the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance; TechReady SC, a collaboration of the five Upstate technical colleges; and area Regional Education Centers (RECs) recently launched Dream It Do It South Carolina. (AdvanceSC, Duke Energy’s foundation, deserves particular thanks for its role in funding this effort.)  This workforce awareness and economic development effort will spur greater interest in manufacturing careers among young adults and expand their education and training opportunities.  The awareness portion of the campaign includes a web page, social media, brochures and communications leading young people to the web site.

By engaging youth early and by collectively combating the misconceptions that exist about manufacturing careers, we can continue to move South Carolina forward as a manufacturing leader. Through efforts like Dream It Do It South Carolina, we will be work to address the skilled worker shortage and rely on the math and science education of future generations to provide the human infrastructure needed for manufacturers to succeed in the 21st century global economy. Learn more online at www.dreamitdoitsc.com.  

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Lewis F. Gossett is the President & CEO of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance.