5 Reasons to Consider a Manufacturing Career

Not many people realize that they are a beneficiary of the manufacturing field every day.

In fact, every product we use in our daily lives came from a manufacturing team that included designers, engineers, assemblers and more, according to Rhetta Hunyady, Vice President of Education & Training, Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce.

And as technology continues to expand and change the way manufacturing jobs are done, the career sector is becoming a more lucrative choice for job seekers.

Here are five reasons to consider a career in manufacturing:

1. Manufacturing careers pay more than $77,000 on average in the United States.
2. Manufacturing has the most jobs of any goods-producing industry in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3. Manufacturing provides upward mobility for career advancement from entry level to management to ownership.
4. The industry supports creativity, problem solving, team building, resourcefulness, change management and quality.
5. The skills and compensation gained in manufacturing lead to economic stability for both the individual and community at large.

To celebrate modern manufacturing while inspiring the next generation of manufacturers, thousands of educators and manufacturers recognize Manufacturing Day on the first Friday of October.

For the third year in a row, the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with local manufacturers to host an immersive event for area students.

On Thursday, Oct. 5, students from across Genesee County will visit two manufacturers, where they will tour the facilities. During these visits, the students will learn what it takes to begin a career in manufacturing, as well as what jobs are available in the field.

“Manufacturing looks different than it did in the 1950s,” Hunyady says. “The industry has new processes that require new skills and resources to excel, so there are a vast range of opportunities within this career sector. Students who have participated in our previous Manufacturing Day site visits have walked away with an entirely different perspective about manufacturing as a career path.”

Interested in participating in this year’s event? Email Amy Watts at awatts@flintandgenesee.org for details.