UKG Champions MFG Day 2021, Inspiring New Generation of Manufacturing Talent

WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/1/21 –

The Manufacturing Institute announced UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group) as an Advocate Sponsor of MFG Day 2021. Launched annually on the first Friday in October and continuing throughout the month, MFG Day includes focused events to promote manufacturing to students, parents and educators. Manufacturers will open their doors—in-person or virtually—to offer a first-hand look at the career possibilities in modern manufacturing. An initiative of The Manufacturing Institute (MI), MFG Day also advances the mission of Creators Wanted, the industry’s year-round effort to build the workforce of the future.

“Without question the manufacturing industry’s biggest long-term challenge is the skills gap. We have more than 800,000 open jobs in manufacturing, and we will need to fill 4 million positions by the end of the decade, according to research from the MI and Deloitte,” said MI Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “Closing that skills gap requires us to inspire, educate and empower the next generation of manufacturing workers—and that’s where Creators Wanted and MFG Day come in. Companies that participate in MFG Day and Creators Wanted are taking strong, tangible steps toward strengthening the industry’s workforce and closing the skills gap. And as one of our outstanding sponsors, UKG is going the extra mile for our industry.”

“It is an honor to again stand with thousands of organizations nationally that are inspiring the next generation of creators and innovators to explore careers in modern manufacturing,” said Kylene Zenk, director of the manufacturing practice at UKG, which recently surveyed HR leaders and younger manufacturing workers to help foster a continuous talent pipeline by drawing comparisons between today’s talent management strategies and what Gen Z really wants in the workplace.

“We know firsthand that businesses thrive when they listen to and invest in their people,” said Zenk. “That’s what makes sponsoring MFG Day an invaluable initiative year after year for UKG. Building a skilled, able, and engaged future workforce requires a commitment to driving the alignment of HR and operational strategies to the voice of Gen Z, and MFG Day creates incredible opportunities annually for organizations to immerse young talent in the field of manufacturing and encourage their interests in STEM.”

MFG Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors—in-person or virtually—to students, parents, teachers and community leaders. MFG Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive. MFG Day is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute and was originally founded by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International.

-The MI-

The MI grows and supports the manufacturing industry’s skilled workers for the advancement of modern manufacturing. The MI’s diverse initiatives support all workers in America, including women, veterans and students, through skills training programs, community building and the advancement of their career in manufacturing. As the workforce development and education partner of the NAM, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with resources necessary to solve the industry’s toughest challenges. For more information on the MI, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

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