Track: Sustainable Manufacturing

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determine the effectiveness of workforce training and education programmes. According to the Global Manufacturing Index, there has been an increase in workforce aging within the manufacturing industry, which led to a decline in the high-tech skilled workforce. There is no doubt that the workforce is facing challenges of advancing technology, globalization, and demographics to name a few. Equally, these forces are challenging institutions, organizations, and industries to respond by supporting the workforce to reskill and upskill constantly. As a result, there is a need to focus on articulating the skills, competencies, and capabilities that will be necessary in a near future, and to determine the effectiveness and flexibility of workforce training and education programmes to establish relevance in a way that addresses life-long learning and work, and that address long-term unemployment solutions. The findings are based on a recent literature review that focuses on workforce development and aligning education and training with industry needs.  These findings suggest that aligning education and workforce training with industry needs is a worldwide challenge for both developed and developing economies to invest in human capital development, especially with the focus on the manufacturing sector workforce which has been in decline in the past few years. The impact on education, skills, and career development forces institutions to reflect on their education and training programmes as to whether they should respond to the national mandate. The findings will provide some insight to education and training institutions, organizations, industries, workers, students, and job seekers of what is underway and what skills will be needed more, as well as how to build and sustain a skilled workforce and economic growth while strengthening career pathways and guiding skills attainment for the nation.