Organizational growth relies on good leadership, high employee engagement, embracing new technologies, and clear supply chain management strategies. See how respondents are anticipating the future of their industry.
Manufacturing leaders are prioritizing problem-solving skills (24%), technical skills (19%), and teamwork (14%) when hiring. Other key skills include attention to detail (10%), adaptability (9% tie), and communication skills (9% tie). In 2023, the top skill was communication, which has dropped to sixth place this year, while problem-solving, technical skills, and teamwork remained among the top priorities. Last year’s question allowed multiple answers, whereas this year’s results are based on a single choice, leading to percentage shifts.
When hiring new employees, what are the most important skills you look for?
Fifty-one percent of respondents anticipate an increase in their budget for talent in the coming year, compared to 42% who expect it to stay the same and 5% who foresee a decrease. In 2023, 60% expected their talent budget to increase, marking a 9% decrease this year.
How do you anticipate your budget for hiring new employees and retaining employees will change in the next 12 months?
Sixty-five percent of manufacturing leaders expect their budget for new technology to increase over the next year, while 30% predict it will stay the same, and 2% anticipate a decrease. In 2023, 62% anticipated a technology budget increase, making this year’s number slightly higher at 65%.
How do you anticipate your budget for investing in new technologies will change in the next 12 months?
Fifty-seven percent of respondents plan to increase their sustainability budget in the next year, while 36% expect it to stay the same and 3% anticipate a decrease. In 2023, 61% expected their sustainability budget to grow, reflecting a slight decrease this year.
How do you anticipate your budget for investing in sustainability will change in the next 12 months?
Seventy-two percent of manufacturing leaders believe automation or robotics will change their current job within the next five years, while 28% do not expect a change. This aligns closely with last year’s survey, where 71% expected automation to impact their job.
Do you believe your current job will change with the introduction of automation/robots in the next 5 years?
Eighty-eight percent of respondents plan to stay at their job for at least the next 12 months, while 12% plan to leave. This marks a 7% increase from 2023, when 81% said they would remain at their job for the next year.
Do you plan to leave your job in the next 12 months?
Forty-seven percent of respondents report an increase in employee turnover, while 43% say it has remained the same and 11% say it is decreasing. In 2023, 44% said turnover was increasing, making this year’s figure comparable at 47%.
How would you rank your company’s rate of turnover in the past 12 months?
Twenty-eight percent of respondents would take a 10% pay cut to work in a more technology-driven factory, while 72% would choose to stay at their current organization. This percentage remains consistent with last year, when 28% were also willing to take a pay cut for a more technologically advanced workplace.
Would you quit your job today to go work in a more technology-driven factory if it paid 10% less?
Thirty-one percent of respondents would take a 10% pay cut to work in a more sustainable factory, while 69% would stay at their current organization. This is a slight increase from 2023, when 29% said they would take a pay cut for sustainability.
Would you quit your job today to go work in a factory that took a more sustainable approach to manufacturing if it paid 10% less?
