Workforce News
Built by Industry, Backed by Philanthropy: How Autodesk Foundation is helping FAME USA scale employer-led workforce development
November 9, 2026With Autodesk Foundation backing, FAME USA's employer-led apprenticeship model has grown 48% since 2022, now spanning 45+ chapters in 19 states with over 450 employer partners—pairing paid work at manufacturers like Toyota and Caterpillar with associate degrees.
Help Bring FAME to Your Region: Second Round of Funding Now Open
November 9, 2026The Manufacturing Institute opens a second round of FAME Catalyst Grants, offering up to nine regional organizations $65,000 each to launch employer-led FAME chapters and build advanced manufacturing talent pipelines. Applications are due January 8, 2027.
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing Sees Success with MI’s FAME
November 5, 2026Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is building its talent pipeline through the MI's FAME USA program, paying Alabama students for full-time work plus school costs while they train for advanced manufacturing careers. FAME now spans nearly 50 chapters in 19 states with 450+ employer…
GE Aerospace Spotlights the Power of Military Talent at Fort Bragg
November 2, 2026GE Aerospace headlined Heroes MAKE America's career fair at Fort Bragg, where veteran employees showed how military skills power manufacturing careers. The GE Aerospace Foundation's $500,000 investment is paying off, with all A&P Prep Course graduates passing exams and…
MI’s Carolyn Lee Talks Workforce, Education and Training on “MFG Talk Radio”
October 19, 2026MI President Carolyn Lee tells "MFG Talk Radio" that manufacturing has roughly 450,000 open jobs each month and a place for everyone—from veterans to students—urging the industry to invest in upskilling, career awareness and programs like FAME to build its talent pipeline.
MI Takes Roadshow to Smurfit Westrock, Highlights Success of FAME
October 15, 2026The Manufacturing Institute brought its "Training for the Future" tour to Smurfit Westrock's Winston-Salem facility, spotlighting the FAME apprenticeship program and a new AI training suite designed to close manufacturing's skills gap through employer-led workforce solutions.
MI, Saint-Gobain Kick Off MFG Day 2026 in Georgia
October 14, 2026The Manufacturing Institute and Saint-Gobain launched MFG Day 2026 in Peachtree City, Georgia, hosting more than 100 students for a facility tour—part of a nationwide push to fill over half a million open manufacturing jobs and inspire the next generation of skilled workers.
MI Launches AI Skills Training for the Manufacturing Workforce
September 28, 2026The MI launched free, self-paced AI training courses for manufacturing workers, aiming to reach 40,000 learners. With over half of manufacturers using AI but 82% saying employees lack AI skills, the suite helps workers apply the technology on the floor.
Deloitte and MI Study Shows Potential for AI to Accelerate Manufacturing Skills Training
September 10, 2026Analysis estimates manufacturing technician employment could grow six times faster than production occupations in manufacturing between 2025 and 2030
Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute find AI could help close manufacturing's skills gap by digitizing technical knowledge and opening technician roles to nearly 2 million adjacent-industry workers, as employers face 2.3 million job openings through 2030.
Manufacturing’s Greatest Competitive Advantage: Its People
September 8, 2026The Manufacturing Institute honors America's manufacturing workers this Labor Day while warning of 1.9 million potentially unfilled jobs by 2033. Programs like FAME USA, STEP Ahead and AI skills training aim to build the workforce the industry needs.
