The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everybody in some way, but it’s hit young people particularly hard. When the furlough scheme came into play back in March, it was the under 25s who were more likely to be placed on the scheme than any other age group. They were also the age group most likely to lose their job, with the youth unemployment rate rising to 13.1%, compared to 4.1% for the whole of the UK.

The pandemic has really impacted upon the career prospects of young people, threatening a prolonged negative economic impact on them as a result. For many, it’s going to be harder to make that first step onto the career ladder, get back into the world of work after losing a job, and harder to progress into higher-paying occupations.

If you have found yourself out of work, or have recently come out of education and don’t know where to turn, this can be a really difficult time. You may want to consider a career in manufacturing. This year, the manufacturing sector (and the many industries it represents), was designated as being essential and able to carry on as normal during the restrictions. For someone looking for job security, manufacturing is arguably in a stronger position than most.

Manufacturing needs you

Over the years, manufacturing has not been the first choice for many young people. It is clear that manufacturing careers are deemed less desirable in the UK than in other countries, and young people are not as actively encouraged to consider careers in this area. Whilst UK manufacturing is working closely with the education sector and the Government to improve young people’s perception of engineering and manufacturing, and in raising awareness of the opportunities on offer, there is certainly still more to be done.

The fact is that manufacturing needs you! Like so many industries right now, the sector is suffering from a skills gap – partly caused by the absence of young people in its ranks. Manufacturing is here to stay and needs skilled workers. The baby boomers are retiring, leaving huge gaps in the workforce. When young people are in need of a stable career and this sector needs young people, it just makes sense, right?

Innovation at its core

Innovation is a driving force in manufacturing. It is this innovation in part that has allowed manufacturing companies up and down the country to adapt to the disruption caused by COVID-19 and to continue to trade as ‘normal’, meeting customer demand.

Because manufacturing covers such a wide range of different industries, from food processing and automotive and aerospace production, to pharmaceuticals: the chances are that there will always be something that interests you. You never know – you could be a part of the team that develops the next supercar, the next spaceship, or groundbreaking future vaccines. When new technologies begin to have an impact on our everyday lives, you can bet that they have been tried and tested first in the manufacturing sector. Being at the heart of this is pretty exciting.

Continuous learning

Before COVID young people had a multitude of choices when it came to careers. There is no longer the pressure to remain in one singular job forever unless you want to. Millennials are likely to have 12 different jobs over the course of their working lives.

For a young person with the eagerness to learn and move forwards and sideways within their career, manufacturing may be the perfect route to take. It offers huge opportunities, with a constant stream of new things to learn and knowledge to be acquired. As the sector continues to evolve, so too does its workforce and the skill sets it requires.

To help new (and older) employees, many manufacturing companies run their own training programmes. So whether you’re looking to learn the basics, interested in learning new skills, or looking for a position in sales and marketing, HR or quality control: the opportunities are endless.

Another positive is that manufacturing companies have a long and proud heritage of training and promoting staff internally. This means that you’ll often be offered the chance to progress within the company. You can enjoy job security, whilst knowing that you’ll always have the opportunity to move forward.

Health is wealth

You may have seen the many reports about what the future of the remote worker might look like. Being hunched over a computer all day with limited social interaction can lead to dry, inflamed and bloodshot eyes, poor posture, repetitive typing strain, hair loss due to a lack of Vitamin D, and dark circles under eyes.

Unlike many technology-based careers, a job in manufacturing is rarely one where you sit at a desk using a computer all day. You’ll also be unlikely to be working remotely, meaning you’ll spend your working days around people being mentally stimulated and engaged. You’re likely to be on your feet and moving around throughout the day, staying active. Having the regular routine of heading out to work can do wonders for your physical and mental health.

So, are you convinced? If you’re currently unemployed and weighing up your next move, why not consider manufacturing? There truly is a role to suit every individual in this diverse and rewarding area.

For further information, please visit Mills CNC.