If a talent shortage is on your mind as a small and midsize manufacturer, you’re not alone.
79% of manufacturing leaders are saying the same thing.
However, the Technology & Manufacturing Association in Schaumburg Illinois offers a solution: training the next generation of machinists!
Find out all TMA Training has to offer HERE.
As for what manufacturers are saying, from Industry Week –
79% of manufacturing leaders report the skilled labor shortage as a major external challenge, a 7% increase over the 72% reported in 2025, according to CADDi’s 2026 Manufacturing Outlook Study. In response, 62% of respondents say they are aiming to improve worker recruitment and retention.
“Manufacturing teams are facing shrinking headcounts despite rising volatility and pressure,” says Yushiro Kato, CEO and co-founder of CADDi. “To ease the labor shortage’s impact, companies need faster answers, stronger cost visibility and data that lets them act with confidence.”
Rising direct costs (61%), uncertain trade policy (47%) and geopolitical supply chain disruptions (38%) also rank among manufacturers’ top concerns for 2026.