Manufacturing Labor Shortages? How Ryerson Can Help
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The manufacturing industry is facing a severe and persistent labor shortage that continues to challenge production efficiency, innovation, and growth.
As of January 2024, there were approximately 622,000 unfilled manufacturing positions in the United States. Even more concerning, projections suggest that by 2033, the industry may need to fill as many as 3.8 million roles, with around 1.9 million positions potentially remaining vacant if the current trajectory holds.
This shortage creates a significant challenge for manufacturers, who must find ways to maintain output and quality with fewer skilled workers. Companies must either find ways to attract and retain talent or optimize their operations to do more with fewer hands.
That’s where Ryerson Advanced Processing comes in, offering tailored solutions to help manufacturers keep their operations running efficiently, even in the face of workforce shortages.
Why Is the Manufacturing Industry Facing a Labor Shortage?
Several factors contribute to the current labor gap in manufacturing:
- An Aging Workforce:The retirement rate in manufacturing is accelerating, with many skilled tradespeople leaving the industry without enough younger workers to replace them. This is a critical issue as many roles require hands-on expertise that takes years to develop.
- A Skills Gap in Advanced Manufacturing: Modern manufacturing increasingly relies on automation, robotics, and data-driven processes, yet many job seekers lack the specialized training required to operate advanced machinery.
- Misconceptions About Manufacturing Careers:Despite technological advancements, many still perceive manufacturing jobs as outdated or undesirable, leading to fewer young professionals pursuing careers in the field.
- Nearshoring Boom Increasing Demand:With more manufacturers bringing production back to North America to avoid supply chain disruptions, the demand for skilled labor is increasing—but the workforce hasn’t caught up.
Faced with these challenges, manufacturers need reliable ways to keep their production lines moving without relying solely on hiring more workers. Ryerson Advanced Processing provides exactly that.
How Ryerson Advanced Processing Solves the Labor Shortage Problem
1. Reducing the Need for Additional Skilled Labor
Rather than investing in expensive new machinery or struggling to recruit skilled workers, manufacturers can leverage Ryerson’s extensive processing capabilities to handle essential fabrication tasks. Our services allow companies to focus on core operations while outsourcing complex or labor-intensive metalworking processes to us.
2. Comprehensive Processing Capabilities
Ryerson Advanced Processing offers a broad range of services that eliminate the need for additional in-house personnel and equipment investments. These include:
- Straight-line cutting– Precision cutting of materials to the exact specifications required.
- Profile cutting– Complex shape cutting for various applications.
- Bending and forming– High-quality forming for structural and custom metal components.
- Machining– Advanced machining capabilities to meet tight tolerances.
- Flattening and surface cleaning– Preparing metal surfaces for final use.
- Welding and painting– Additional finishing services to streamline production.
By relying on these capabilities, manufacturers can reduce the need for highly skilled workers on-site, while still meeting production demands and quality standards.
3. Speeding Up Production Without Adding Overhead
Ryerson’s network of nearly 100 facilities across North America means faster turnaround times and localized support. Manufacturers no longer need to maintain large inventories of raw materials or dedicate significant resources to complex processing tasks. Instead, they can receive pre-processed metals, reducing waste and inefficiency.
4. Cost Savings and Efficiency Gains
Labor shortages often lead to increased costs as manufacturers pay higher wages to attract and retain skilled workers. Outsourcing processing work to Ryerson helps businesses cut labor costs, lower operational expenses, and improve efficiency by reducing the need for on-site fabrication.
Additionally, utilizing multi-process fabrication machines—which Ryerson employs—turns what was once a relay race of steps into a sprint of streamlined efficiency. Instead of requiring multiple workers across different machines, Ryerson’s advanced equipment consolidates tasks, increasing throughput while minimizing labor requirements.
Keep Moving Even Amid Labor Shortages
In a time when manufacturers are struggling to find skilled workers, Ryerson Advanced Processing offers a smart, strategic way to keep production moving without the added burden of hiring, training, and retaining additional staff.
By leveraging our expertise and expansive network, manufacturers can navigate labor shortages while maintaining the highest levels of quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
Let’s talk about your labor challenges
