Manufacturing Day is this Friday, October 2, and is a good reminder that attracting the next generation of manufacturing talent takes more than putting a “Now Hiring” sign outside the building.
We shared ideas earlier this year about using Manufacturing Day to introduce students to today's manufacturing careers. But the bigger question for HR leaders is this:
What happens after the plant tour this Friday?
Manufacturing has changed dramatically. Automation, robotics, AI, advanced technology, and sophisticated production systems have created career opportunities that look very different from the traditional image of manufacturing. Yet many students and their parents still don't know what those careers look like or how to get started.
A Manufacturing Day event can open the door and presents an opportunity to keep the relationship going.
Some employers are taking the next step by creating “signing day” events for students who commit to joining the company after graduation or entering an apprenticeship or skilled-trades pathway. The concept borrows from the excitement of college athletic signing days and gives students a public moment to celebrate their career choice.
Michigan has used this approach through Going PRO Signing Week, recognizing high school students who committed to apprenticeships or professional trades opportunities.
Manufacturing Day can be the starting point for a year-round talent strategy:
- Host plant tours, but create a follow-up. Capture student interest and invite participants back for internships, job shadows or future hiring events.
- Build relationships with CTE programs and schools. Don't wait until you have an opening. Get to know the teachers, counselors, and program leaders who influence students' career decisions.
- Create your own signing day. Celebrate students who accept an apprenticeship, internship, or post-graduation position with your organization.
- Expand apprenticeships. Registered Apprenticeships allow employers to develop talent through paid, on-the-job learning combined with related instruction. Michigan had a record number of active registered apprentices in 2025.
- Give students a real look at the work. Let them meet engineers, machinists, technicians, operators, IT professionals, HR professionals, and other employees. Do a day in the life video montage on social media if having tours isn’t an option.
- Put employees in the spotlight. A 10-year employee telling a student how they started as an apprentice may be more powerful than a recruiting brochure.
- Invite parents. Parents often influence how young people view career options. Help them understand the technology, wages, career progression, and skills involved in modern manufacturing.
- Create a pathway, not just an event. Think about the progression: classroom visit → plant tour → job shadow → internship → apprenticeship or full-time opportunity.
- Track the results. How many students did you reach? How many expressed interest? How many became interns, apprentices, or employees? If you aren't tracking it, it is difficult to know whether your efforts are building a pipeline.
This Manufacturing Day, ask your team, “What are we doing to make sure the students we meet today know how to find us two years from now?”
The strongest talent pipelines are built long before a job opening exists. Manufacturing Day is a great opportunity to open the doors, but the real workforce strategy is what happens after the students leave.
The primary national resource for Manufacturing Day is:
- Manufacturing Day (Official Website) – Provides information on how to host an event, planning guides, promotional materials, educator resources, and ideas for engaging students and the community.
Michigan employers may also find it helpful to connect with:
These organizations can help employers identify local Manufacturing Day events, build partnerships with educators, and create year-round workforce development initiatives.