A qualitative look at one-year manufacturing program students' perceptions of manufacturing, work values, and enrollment decision factors

Abstract

Manufacturing is a driving force of our economy and has transformed from low skill occupations to occupations focused on the utilization of technology resulting in a higher skill requirement. A combination of retirements within industry and a lack of interest among the future workforce are creating a worker shortage within manufacturing. Current literature does not offer insights into why students do select manufacturing as an occupation and what they value in work. This qualitative study used focus groups to identify students' perceptions of manufacturing, the work values they hold, and who and what influenced them to select a specific manufacturing based occupational program. Participants were students presently enrolled in the short-term manufacturing based programs of welding, CNC, and industrial electronics maintenance. Findings indicate the even among those who chose manufacturing as a career, negative paradigms of manufacturing still exist. A common set of work values also exists for focus group participants. Students are strongly influenced in their career direction by parents and teachers. Experiences, both at home and at the secondary school level are a contributor to career choice and therefore collaboration among secondary, post-secondary, and business is needed to foster additional interest.