Yup, that's right. Check out
this article from Printing Impressions that sounds the alarm most companies should have heard years ago. According to a recent survey, the majority of printing companies expect at least 30 to 50 percent of their workforce to walk out the door in the next ten years. The median age in their press room: 45 years old. And it gets worse. Traditional sources for employees--like trade schools and unions--are dried up and no longer feeding the pipeline.
What's the solution? Here are a few answers:
- Start training a select number of employees for more responsibility while bringing in new, less experienced employees to take their place when they're fully trained.
- While the printing industry seems old and outdated, it's up to you to make the case for the technology aspect of our business and how you can convey this successfully.
- Job fairs? Why not! Just make sure you communicate the modern challenging environment at your company.
- There are government grants available for summer intern programs.
- You may need to develop relationships with high schools, trade schools and junior colleges in your area to attract and recruit new employees.