The Missing Generation of Engineers

Can manufacturing win back the next generation?

Walk into almost any wire and cable factory today and you may hear the same concern.

“We cannot find the people.”

Across the global manufacturing sector, companies are reporting the same challenge. Demand for engineering skills is rising rapidly, yet fewer young people appear to be choosing careers in industrial sectors.

For industries such as wire and cable manufacturing, where decades of technical knowledge and specialised skills are essential, the challenge is becoming increasingly urgent.

Recent research suggests the scale of the issue is significant. Globally, manufacturing could face a shortage of nearly 7.9 million skilled workers by 2030 if current trends continue.

In the United States alone, more than two million manufacturing jobs could remain unfilled by the end of the decade, while in the UK industry bodies estimate a shortfall of between 37,000 and 59,000 engineers every year.

The challenge is not simply about recruitment. It is about ensuring that the industries responsible for building the infrastructure of the future have the talent they need to continue innovating.

“Finding skilled engineers and technicians is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers. As the industry grows with electrification and renewable energy, attracting new talent will be essential.”
Bernd Lohmuller, Maschienfabrik Niehoff, IWMA President.

 

A perception problem

One of the biggest challenges facing manufacturing may not be the work itself, but the image of the industry.

Research suggests that only around 15 percent of secondary school students would consider a career in manufacturing, with many describing the sector as outdated or unappealing.

The irony is that modern factories look nothing like the stereotype.

Today’s manufacturing environments increasingly involve:

• robotics
  • automation
  • artificial intelligence
  • advanced materials
  • digital monitoring systems

In many cases, the reality is closer to a high tech laboratory than the industrial environments many people still imagine.

Yet this transformation has not always been communicated effectively to the next generation.

 

When engineering lost the spotlight

Industries such as motorsport and automotive engineering have long understood the power of storytelling.

Formula 1 teams produce cinematic videos showcasing cutting edge technology, innovation and high performance engineering. These productions capture the imagination of millions of young fans around the world.

But behind every race car seen on television is an army of engineers, technicians and factory workers whose work is far less glamorous on the surface.

The reality of engineering is often meticulous and demanding. It involves testing components, refining processes, troubleshooting problems and spending long hours perfecting details that may never be visible to the public.

And yet it is precisely this work that makes innovation possible.

In many ways, the videographer filming the car may appear to have the more exciting job than the engineer who spent months designing the component being filmed.

This reflects a broader cultural shift. Young people today are growing up in a world shaped by social media, where success is often measured by visibility.

Careers that appear exciting on screen such as influencers, content creators or digital media roles can seem more attractive than careers where the most important work happens behind factory walls.

 

When did this change?

The shift did not happen overnight.

From the 1950s through to the 1980s, manufacturing and engineering were widely seen as prestigious professions. Many countries had strong apprenticeship systems and thriving industrial sectors that offered stable careers and long term progression.

However, several changes began to reshape the landscape.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, many education systems placed increasing emphasis on university education while vocational training declined. At the same time, globalisation shifted large parts of manufacturing away from Western economies.

Then came the digital revolution.

As technology companies and internet start ups grew, careers in software development, finance and digital media began attracting many of the brightest graduates.

More recently, the rise of social media has introduced an entirely new cultural dynamic. Careers that generate visibility and online recognition can appear more appealing than careers where success is measured through technical achievement rather than public attention.

Yet the irony remains. Every smartphone, data centre and electric vehicle ultimately depends on manufacturing.

 

A global challenge but not everywhere

While the skills shortage is widespread, some countries have developed systems that successfully attract young people into engineering and technical careers.

Their experiences offer valuable lessons.

 

Switzerland: making apprenticeships prestigious

Switzerland is often cited as one of the most effective models for industrial skills development.

Around two thirds of Swiss students enter vocational education pathways, combining classroom learning with practical experience inside companies.

Crucially, apprenticeships are not viewed as a second option compared with university education. Technical careers are highly respected and often lead to specialised and well paid roles.

 

Singapore: planning the workforce of the future

Singapore has taken a highly strategic approach to workforce development.

Government, industry and education institutions work closely together to forecast labour needs and develop training programmes aligned with those needs.

Students are often trained using the same equipment and technologies used in modern factories, meaning graduates arrive with valuable practical experience.

 

South Korea: making factories high tech again

South Korea has invested heavily in transforming manufacturing into a technology driven sector.

Thousands of factories have been upgraded into smart factories, incorporating robotics, automation and digital production systems.

This shift has helped reposition manufacturing as a cutting edge career path that attracts engineers interested in innovation and digital technology.

 

Asia and India: a different paradox

In some regions the challenge is not a lack of engineering graduates, but a mismatch between education and industry needs.

India produces more than one million engineering graduates each year, yet manufacturers frequently report difficulties finding candidates with the practical skills required for industrial roles.

This employability gap highlights the importance of stronger links between industry and education.

 

The irony: this industry powers the future

Despite its image problem, the wire and cable industry sits at the centre of some of the most important technological developments of the century.

Without cable there is no:

• renewable energy grid
  • electric vehicle infrastructure
  • global power transmission
  • data centre connectivity
  • digital communication networks

“As global demand for energy, connectivity and infrastructure continues to grow, the need for skilled people across the wire and cable supply chain will only increase.”
Brian Cutts, TEMCO Wire Products Ltd. IWMA Member.

The challenge is ensuring that the next generation understands just how central this industry is to the technologies shaping the future.

 

Did you know?

• The global cable market is expected to exceed $350 billion by 2030
  • Offshore wind farms can require thousands of kilometres of submarine cable
  • Data centres rely on vast networks of specialised cabling
  • Yet many engineering courses rarely mention the wire and cable industry

 

Rediscovering pride in making things

There is something deeply satisfying about building something tangible.

Engineers and technicians often describe the pride that comes from seeing a system they helped create working in the real world.

That sense of achievement creating infrastructure, machines or technologies that power everyday life is something few other professions can offer.

Reconnecting younger generations with that sense of purpose may be one of the most important challenges facing manufacturing today.

 

“The world may celebrate influencers, but it still depends on engineers.”

 

The industry’s image problem and how we fix it

If the sector wants to attract the next generation, it may need to rethink how it presents itself.

 

Tell the bigger story

The wire and cable industry enables electrification, renewable energy and global connectivity.

 

Show the technology

Modern manufacturing involves robotics, automation, data analytics and advanced materials.

 

Strengthen links with education

Closer collaboration between industry, universities and technical schools is essential.

 

Promote global careers

Wire and cable is a truly international industry with global career opportunities.

 

Build communities for the next generation

Industry networks can help young professionals share ideas and develop leadership skills.

 

Looking ahead

The recruitment challenge facing manufacturing is real, but it is not inevitable.

Countries such as Switzerland, Singapore and South Korea demonstrate that when industry, education and government work together, it is possible to build strong engineering workforces.

For the global wire and cable industry, the task ahead is not simply about filling vacancies.

It is about reintroducing a vital industry to a generation that may not yet realise it is helping to power the future.

The world’s transition to electrification, renewable energy and digital infrastructure will depend on the technologies our industry provides.

The question is not whether the next generation of engineers will be needed.

It is whether we can inspire them to join us in building that future.

 

What is IWMA doing to support the next generation?

The recruitment challenge facing the wire and cable industry is not something any one company can solve alone. As an international association, the IWMA recognises that supporting the next generation of engineers and technicians must be a collective effort across the industry.

 

Young Employee of the Year Award

The prestigious IWMA Young Employee of the Year Award recognises talented individuals under the age of 30 who are making a meaningful contribution within their company and the wider industry.

 

Wire Educational Awardees

Each wire Düsseldorf year the IWMA supports Wire Educational Awardees, providing young engineers with the opportunity to attend the major international exhibition wire Düsseldorf and participate in a structured programme of industry activities.

The initiative gives early career professionals valuable exposure to new technologies, global companies and experienced industry leaders. Over the years many past awardees have gone on to build long lasting careers within the wire and cable sector, with several progressing into senior technical and leadership roles within their organisations.

By offering this early introduction to the international wire and cable community, the programme aims to inspire and support the next generation of industry professionals.

 

Sponsorship and industry engagement

Many IWMA members already support young professionals through sponsorship opportunities, internships and internal training programmes.

 

Future Faces

The IWMA has recently launched the Future Faces Committee bringing together young professionals from across the global industry to share ideas, collaborate and contribute to the future direction of the association.

 

We know there is more to do

While these initiatives represent positive steps, the IWMA recognises that the industry must continue to do more to attract and support the next generation.

The association therefore welcomes ideas and feedback from members on how the IWMA, and the wider industry, can further strengthen the talent pipeline for the future.