Manufacturing Outlook provides insights on talent recruitment and retention
The Springfield Business Development Corporation (SBDC) Manufacturing Outlook on Dec. 4, brought together Springfield region manufacturing and business leaders to focus on key strategies for attracting and retaining top talent in Springfield’s vital manufacturing sector.
The panel discussion, moderated by Carrie Richardson, Leadership Springfield, Inc., included perspectives from:
· Brad Coy, Impact Recruiting Partners
· Tiffani Claussen, Amprod, LLC
· Michael Eaton, Missouri Association of Manufacturing
Manufacturing plays a crucial role in local, state and national economies. In Springfield, the strength and growth of the manufacturing sector are directly linked to the economic vitality of the city, supporting over 26,000 jobs across the region, contributing nearly 9% of the total employment and providing an average of 15% higher wages than other sectors. During the discussion, panelists shared insights on navigating a generational shift in the workforce, effectively showcasing achievements to attract top talent and understanding the key motivators for employees.
On the topic of talent retention in the manufacturing sector, Eaton emphasized the importance of understanding employee motivations. He highlighted successful retention strategies like paid volunteer time and professional development, or simply covering an employee's cellphone bill which creates a culture of recognition and growth. Eaton concluded that these mechanisms were effective because the employer took time to understand and tailor incentives, accordingly, fostering a culture where employees feel recognized, valued and motivated to grow.
“Know your audience, know what connects and resonates with them,” said Eaton.
The panelists discussed tools to recruit top talent in manufacturing. As Co-founder of Impact Recruiting Partners, Coy said the key to recruiting that companies most often miss is failing to share the outcomes and successes of the substantial time, assets and energy invested into retaining workforce. He noted that effectively communicating the results of these investments not only highlights a company’s commitment to its employees but also enhances attractiveness to potential recruits. Coy urged attendees to leverage the power of storytelling by sharing the tangible, positive impacts of workforce investment.
“It is so important to tell the story... it's about the messaging, marketing your culture and telling your story early and always,” said Coy.
In the Springfield region, nearly 25% of the manufacturing workforce are baby boomers nearing retirement and 40% are millennials. Leaders in manufacturing are preparing and addressing the challenge of this generational workforce shift. Amprod, LLC is proactively approaching the changing workforce demographic by partnering with local educational institutions such as Ozarks Technical College and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing. These partnerships offer employees opportunities to enhance their skills and pursue advanced certifications or degrees. Claussen also illustrated Amprod, LLC’s use of specialized development plans to ensure team members have access to the resources they need to advance their careers and thrive in an ever-changing industry.
“It’s not one size fits all,” said Claussen. “We try to think about the individual as a whole, not just their skills for that particular position.”
Panelists urged attendees to promote manufacturing opportunities and collaborate with manufacturers to support the industry's future.
“We do not exist without manufacturing,” said Eaton. “It is a creative process – it’s one of the most innovative industries – promote it to your kids, promote it to your relatives because it's critical to this country.”
