In advance of MFG Day on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, a panel of manufacturing publication editors and a representative of The Manufacturing Institute discussed how the industry is doing in its attempt to win over a new generation of young people. Attracting skilled and unskilled workers to factories remains difficult, despite a growing number of people saying technical fields provide young people with a great alternative to college.

Discussing these issues were:

• Jen White, director of student engagement at The Manufacturing Institute, who spoke about the history of MFG Day and what businesses are doing this year
• Traci Purdum, editor-in-chief of Chemical Processing, who discussed on ongoing series of stories her staff is writing about preparing the workforce for the future in the process industries
• Andrea Corona, senior editor at Pharma Manufacturing, who discussed how high-tech producers are facing challenges
• Geert De Lombaerde, editor-at-large for IndustryWeek parent company Endeavor Business Media, who discussed the Perceptions of the Trades research study that shows parents and young people more interested in skilled trades, but not as much in manufacturing skilled trades
• Rehana Begg, editor-in-chief of Machine Design, who discussed how equipment producers are rethinking controls and machine interfaces to make their easier to use and more familiar to younger workers (touchscreens replacing dials, for example)
• Moderator Robert Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of IndustryWeek