ARM Institute Launches RoboticsCareer.org as Resource for Manufacturing Workforce
The Pittsburgh-based public-private consortium aims to address shortages of skilled labor, particularly among robotics technicians.
The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute today announced the availability of RoboticsCareer.org, an online resource designed to help address the skilled workforce challenge in U.S. manufacturing. This national capability is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The ARM Institute is the nation’s leading collaborative in robotics and workforce innovation, working at the confluence of industry, government, and academia. Structured as a public-private partnership, the ARM Institute and its member organizations catalyze robotic technologies and education solutions to strengthen the U.S. industrial base and secure U.S. manufacturing resiliency.
The institute's membership base includes start-ups, robotics suppliers, research universities, community colleges, manufacturers of all sizes, unions, government agencies, workforce development organizations, and more.
Manufacturers need more robotics technicians
The manufacturing industry has more than 500,000 job openings today, according to CNN. U.S. factories are struggling to find both entry-level and skilled workers. As many as 2.1 million manufacturing jobs will be unfilled through 2030, estimates Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. This shortfall could ultimately cost the U.S. economy $1 trillion. In addition, one of the most in-demand roles is for robotics technicians, reports Burning Glass.
The ARM Institute has been keenly aware of this issue since its formation in early 2017. With its 300+ member consortium and strategic partners in the Department of Defense, Department of Labor, and Department of Commerce, the institute has taken a significant step in supporting our nation’s efforts to tackle this issue.
RoboticsCareer.org is a federally-funded, national capability that connects students and workers with leading robotics education programs for manufacturing careers.
Updated on a daily basis, this no-cost resource today lists approximately 10,000 programs from more than 1,200 educational organizations in the U.S. and its territories. This information can be searched based upon location, education delivery (such as online versus on-site), and other keywords.
The ARM Institute has identified the competencies and skills that manufacturers most desire for robotics roles, and these competencies are matched to every program, providing insight and guidance to education and job seekers.
The consortium said the new national resource will also provide the following:
- Broad recognition of robotics education and training programs, from badges and micro-credentials to Ph.D.s
- Defined competency models and robotics job pathways necessary to meet the skills requirements for advanced manufacturing in the U.S.
- Endorsed training programs that meet national consortium-defined requirements that best prepare education seekers for successful careers in advanced manufacturing
“The ARM Institute is committed to work with our members and partners to invest in solutions that support our nation’s need for skilled robotics technicians for manufacturing”, stated Lisa Masciantonio, chief workforce officer at the ARM Institute. “This national capability is a foundation for introducing in-demand new capabilities such as such as career planning, credentialling, and job matching.”
Learn more about RoboticsCareer.org by registering for the ARM Institute’s webinar on Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. ET.
About the ARM Institute
Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) is a Manufacturing USA Institute sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense under Agreement Number W911NF-17-3-0004. It recently celebrated reaching 300 members.
The Pittsburgh-based organization's goal is to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen the U.S. economy and global competitiveness, and elevate national security and resilience.
The ARM Institute said it is “leading the way to a future where people and robots work together to respond to our nation’s greatest challenges and to produce the world’s most desired products.”
