workforce integration
The 2.8 million resilient residents of the St. Louis Metro area have the heart and drive to get big things done. The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center St. Louis is contributing to the platform on which they will make that happen.
Challenge &
Opportunity
Contributing $2.3 trillion of the U.S. GDP, the manufacturing sector has a significant impact on our national economy. Responsible for 8% of direct employment, manufacturing currently employs more than 12 million people.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing employees earned $98,846 on average in 2022, including pay and benefits.
The average hourly earnings of production and non-supervisory manufacturing was $27.31 in February 2024.
For all manufacturing employees, average hourly earnings were $33.40 in February 2024.
Even with the competitive pay and benefits, finding skilled labor remains a top challenge for advanced manufacturing employers.
According to a joint study from the Manufacturing Institute, the U.S. manufacturing industry could need almost 4 million jobs to be filled within the next decade.
Our goals
Effective leadership, collaboration, and integration are the cornerstones of a thriving manufacturing workforce development ecosystem. With a mission to bridge the gap between today’s job market and future career opportunities in manufacturing, AMICSTL will provide the leadership and serve as both a convener and a catalyst, linking workforce development and training entities with manufacturers.
Recognizing that a skilled workforce significantly benefits the region, AMICSTL is committed to fostering seamless communication between manufacturers and workforce training partners. In an era of rapid technological advancement, it is crucial to understand the skill sets that employers need. This knowledge enables workforce providers to equip their participants for success in the evolving job market.
Working collectively and at scale, we will develop a high-quality and diverse talent pipeline trained in cutting-edge skills, ensuring employers and employees thrive. AMICSTL will prioritize the development of the future pipeline by working with partners on strong regional pre-K through 12th grade programming and activities that will spur interest in STEM and being part of ‘making things’.
By uniting stakeholders under a shared workforce vision, AMICSTL is dedicated to fostering innovation, driving sustainable growth, and securing the long-term success of the manufacturing sector.
Making
it happen
Making these goals a reality will demand heart, hard work, unflinching honesty, and true commitment from all stakeholders, including city and state government, community leaders, employers, educators, and entrepreneurs.
Work is already well underway. Our neighbor and partner Ranken Technical College already provides students with an integrated work-based experience and supports apprenticeship training. Southwestern Illinois College and St. Louis Community College are building state-of-the-art training facilities to serve students on the Missouri and Illinois sides of the metro area. Gateway Global is renovating a building in North St. Louis to provide classrooms and apprenticeship workspace for youth and adults to learn new skills, earn college credits and industry credentials, prepare for security clearances, and more.
In addition, the St. Louis Development Corporation has purchased an industrial building on MLK Drive that will be developed into an innovative transit-accessible workforce and training campus for in-demand careers, including advanced manufacturing.
Partners in
TRaining
AMICSTL knows, and data supports, that careers in manufacturing have competitive compensation, robust benefits, and abundant job opportunities. These roles not only shape individual futures but also have regional, national, and global impact.
Home to 40 colleges, trade schools, and universities, the St. Louis metro offers a rich environment for the development of the skilled workforce who will solidify the region’s position as an epicenter for advanced manufacturing. AMICSTL is growing its partnerships with area institutions to connect individuals, programs, and manufacturers to streamline and grow the employment pipeline.
