Nearly 4 Million Manufacturing Jobs Are Opening As Boomers Retire—But Gen Z Is Not Interested

The U.S. is on track to add almost four million manufacturing jobs by 2033—but Gen Z is not interested. While young workers are opting for trade careers, factory roles remain a hard sell.

What Happened: A Deloitte study projects 3.8 million new manufacturing jobs over the next decade, primarily due to retirements.

However, a Soter Analytics survey indicates that only 14% of Gen Z would consider working in factories. Instead, they are going for seemingly better-paying, flexible trades like plumbing and construction, according to Fortune.

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Why It Matters: The gap between job openings and interest could mean that half of the roles will remain unfilled. Low pay—averaging $51,890 a year—as well as safety and flexibility concerns, are major turnoffs.

A 2024 Cato Institute survey revealed that while 80% of Americans support the idea of increasing manufacturing jobs, only 25% said they'd opt for factory work themselves. Nearly three-quarters said they would not, and only 2% currently work in the sector.

Immigration, typically a major source of labor, is likely to be affected by stricter regulations under the Trump administration, which will put the sector under even more pressure.

As boomers retire over the next few years, the lack of Gen Z interest and reduced immigration could lead to a decline in the sector's growth. Without reinvention, the manufacturing boom may hit a wall.

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