INDIANAPOLIS—Advanced manufacturing companies need better educated workers to meet their labor needs, according to a study co-written by Ball State University's Center for Business and Economic Research and Conexus Indiana.
“We find that advanced manufacturing employment has grown, but that employment growth has been clustered in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and white-collar employment,” said the study, “Advanced Manufacturing in the United States,” which was released early in July.
Meanwhile, blue collar employment in advanced manufacturing either has declined or remained unchanged since 2004, depending on the sector, the study said.
“We find, as virtually every other study before has found, that growth in advanced manufacturing is highly correlated with levels of educational attainment,” it said.
“Continued growth and strength in advanced manufacturing will depend on how effectively the K-12 and higher education systems perform in transitioning students into potential employees for these sectors,” the study said.
The study can be found here.