Top tips for attracting talent in the manufacturing industry
The manufacturing industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and the fallout from Brexit. As the economy is finding its feet again, attracting and retaining the right talent for your manufacturing company will be key to your success.
In this fiercely competitive market for new talent, you have a fight on your hands. Retaining your existing talent is half the battle. If you have a factory or manufacturing plant in a large industrial area, you face workers moving to a neighbouring company offering a higher hourly wage.
Counterintuitively, your first step in recruiting for growth is to retain your best workers. Take a long hard look at your current people strategy. If you recruit good workers and your people strategy is under par, they will soon leave, as will your current top talent.
Here are our top tips for recruiting and retaining skilled workers in the manufacturing industry.
How to retain talent in the manufacturing industry
The following guidelines should make it easier to retain talent in the manufacturing industry.
1. Review your current pay and benefits
Consider removing undervalued or unused benefits to release funds for your base wage. If you have large-volume overtime, maybe this is caused by lack of staff, so increasing your base wage might reduce overtime and overall staffing costs.
2. Provide management training
As your company grows, your people might need to adopt line management responsibility. Employees usually progress because they are great technically, which doesn’t automatically make them good managers. Providing management training to improve your new managers’ confidence and skills will strengthen your whole workforce as your company grows.
3. Communicate your growth strategy
Communication is key, although it’s hard to get it right, even when it is as positive as growth. It’s important that you hear from your employees about how they feel about your growth strategies. Then you can provide structured and valuable communication based on this. Show how the plans affect individuals as well as explaining that their output is integral to your company’s overall success.
4. Create a safe working environment
While workplaces around the world are getting back to normal post-pandemic, measures such as sanitation stations, frequent office cleaning and flexible working options provide employees the peace of mind needed to work optimally and productively. Safety measures in the manufacturing industry are particularly important. Ensuring PPE (personal protective equipment) is available, thorough training for machines and tools is given and appropriate breaks are provided will help to create a safe working environment that employees will want to praise.
How to attract talent to the manufacturing industry
Whether it’s construction recruitment or manufacturing recruitment, when you’re ready to hire there are a few things you can do to make the process smoother.
1. Promote the role and your company culture
Show potential candidates what a great employer you are and the benefits of working at your company. Use websites and social media to display positive feedback, employee testimonials and photographs. Include the benefits in your job adverts and emphasise them at interview. Say you are always looking to better them.
2. Streamline the recruitment process
The whole process from the application through to the job offer needs to be professional, streamlined and friendly. Even unsuccessful candidates should find the experience positive and organised, which will reinforce your company’s reputation as a good place to work.
3. Expand your talent pool search
Look beyond places where you traditionally recruit. As you widen the pool, you’ll get more diverse candidates who can bring more to your company. Consider offering referral fees for successful recommendations, relocation packages or career training for school leavers.
Help from the experts in attracting the right talent in the manufacturing industry
If you are considering revising your people strategy across the board, you might find our Talent 360 workshop helpful. It gives you a detailed picture of your current workforce situation, the implications and the resolutions.