London, ON- The Local Employment Planning Council project (LEPC) has released a new research report about the emerging skills that will be needed within the manufacturing sector. This is the third report in a series of six that will better prepare students and jobseekers for employment. The first two reports are based on the agricultural sector and the supply chain sector.
According to the report, local manufacturers are finding new ways to increase production and efficiency thanks to the ever-evolving improvements in technology, and the skillsets of manufacturing workers are adapting to this trend as a result. Employers are hoping to find experienced labour with strong technical expertise in manufacturing, but are also seeking out candidates with an array of soft skills. Not only will job-seekers need the educational requirements for a local career in manufacturing, they will need to develop leadership, teamwork and problem solving skills as well.
Quick Facts:
- In 2015, the manufacturing sector employed over 46,000 people within the London Economic Region, which includes the County of Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford as well as the City of London and St. Thomas.
- The sector is forecasted to grow its workforce by 0.9% in the region between 2015 and 2019, requiring over 8,000 workers within the next 10 years.
- Much of the manufacturing sector now requires skilled labour (millwrights, engineers, tool and dye makers) including senior managers and technical occupations
- Small to medium sized businesses with less than 50 employees make up 85% of manufacturing companies within the London Economic Region
The next research report, detailing the retail sector, will be released at the end of December, followed by a health care report in January and construction in February.
The reports can be found online at https://www.localemploymentplanning.ca/strategic-plan under the “Labour Market Information and Intelligence” tab.
A brief infographic on the future of manufacturing can be found on www.worktrends.ca.
