The Aging of the Manufacturing Workforce

Amid an extended economic expansion and record-low U.S. unemployment, the manufacturing industry faces a labor shortage exacerbated by the aging of the manufacturing workforce and gradual retirement of the baby boomer
generation—as of 2017, nearly one-quarter of the sector’s workforce are age 55 or older. Recognizing that a quality workforce is crucial to productive and successful businesses, manufacturers have responded to the scarcity of suitable workers in a variety of ways, including boosting recruitment efforts, adopting new technologies and taking steps to retain and maximize the productivity of their older workers.