Workforce in Focus

In Case You Missed It

By MI NewsroomJune 26, 2025
Industrial manufacturing worker operating a large CNC machine in a factory setting.
Skilled worker monitoring a CNC machine during the manufacturing process in an industrial facility.

  • In NPR, Carolyn Lee, the President and Executive Director of the Manufacturing Institute highlighted the ongoing perception issue the manufacturing industry faces, the need for skilled talent, and how FAME USA is working to help employers build their own talent pipelines.

  • In the Washington Post, Lee further highlighted the perception issue, saying, “There is this disconnect between understanding the reality of the sector and what the potential of those jobs are and what people believe them to be. Perception is one of our biggest gaps.”

  • The NAM’s Manufacturing Leadership Council released a survey report, Shaping the AI-Powered Factory of the Future that highlights that 82% of manufacturers indicate that “lack of skills” is one of the biggest challenges hindering their organization from leveraging AI more broadly. The MI increasingly is helping manufacturers prepare their workforces to better embraces these technologies. A few weeks ago, Carolyn Lee joined a panel of industry leaders at the NAM’s Executive Edge, to discuss strategies for leading an AI-empowered workforce through a focus on culture.