Workforce Innovation

Inspire the Next Generation

We equip manufacturers to lead effective student engagement that builds early career awareness and strengthens long-term talent pipelines within their communities.

• Innovators Quest: manufacturer-led immersive experiences that introduce young people to modern manufacturing careers through problem solving, collaboration and real-world application.
• MFG Day & nationwide student engagement: a national platform mobilizing thousands of manufacturers and workforce partners to engage students, educators and families by opening their doors, strengthening community connections and showcasing diverse career pathways throughout manufacturing.

Shape the Workforce Ecosystem

We bring manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations and community partners together to align around shared talent needs and scalable solutions.

• Driving community-level diagnostics and strategy development.
• Facilitating regional partnerships that serve multiple manufacturers simultaneously and strengthen the local sector.
• Helping organizations coordinate training, hiring and career pathway development.

Advise Manufacturers One-on-One

We work directly with individual manufacturers to help them build stronger pipelines and strengthen their internal talent development strategies.

• Strategic review of current initiatives to surface what’s working, what’s not and where targeted improvements will drive the greatest impact.
• Customized guidance on working with local education and workforce partners.
• Strategies for attracting underrepresented groups and tapping overlooked talent.
• Recommendations on upskilling, retention and career pathway design.

Build New Training Models for the Future of Work

We help manufacturers prepare their workforce for emerging technologies and AI.

• New curriculum and training program development.
• Models for tech-enabled upskilling.
• Pilots and proof-of-concept programs that translate innovation into sustainable talent pipelines.

Expand Access to Opportunity

We design and support initiatives that open doors for individuals who have historically been left out of manufacturing careers.

• Second chance hiring strategies and implementation support.
• Community partnerships that reduce barriers and support long-term employment success.
• Diversified training pathways that create more on-ramps into manufacturing, no matter the entry point.
• Skills-based hiring practices to recruit career changers with transferable skills.

Curate Solutions and Convene Leaders

We help the industry learn, share and adopt what works.

• MI Solutions Center — the hub for proven recruitment, hiring, training and retention strategies.
• Workforce Summit — annual convening of national thought leaders and practitioners.
• Monthly Solution Series — insights, case studies and actionable practices manufacturers can implement now.

Develop Sensible Workforce and Education Policy Recommendations

We take all of this work with manufacturers and translate it into policy recommendations that provide the sector with effective policy solutions to its talent needs.

Amplify Impact Across the MI

We partner with the MI’s three other pillars to brainstorm, design and align strategies that maximize impact across the entire organization. When another pillar needs workforce expertise, innovation support or fresh thinking, we are their go-to strategic engine.