NAM to mark 125th anniversary with $10 million 2020 campaign

Ahead of its 125th anniversary and the 2020 elections, the National Association of Manufacturers has announced a member-driven campaign to raise at least $10 million for the newly established “Creators Wanted Fund” to inspire and drive more Americans to pursue careers in modern manufacturing.

The NAM will bring a “Creators Wanted” mobile tour of modern manufacturing to parents and students in 20 to 25 states over 18 weeks, unveil a year-long nationwide digital campaign to recruit new talent to the industry and host a culminating “Making America” Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio in September featuring interactive exhibits, thought leadership forums and entertainment and to showcase the future of modern manufacturing in America.

The campaign aims to cut the skills gap by 600,000 workers by 2025; increase by 25% the number of students enrolling in technical and vocational schools; increase by 25% the number of students enrolling in apprenticeships and re-skilling programs; and raise to 50%—from 27%—the number of parents who would encourage their children to pursue a career in modern manufacturing. Ingersoll Rand Chairman and CEO Michael Lamach, Emerson Chairman and CEO David Farr and former Fluor Corporation Chairman and CEO David Seaton will co-chair the campaign.

“We’re going to seize this moment—in a big way. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to leverage our organization’s unmatched strength to tackle the workforce crisis with immediate and long-term solutions,” said Lamach, the newly elected chair of the NAM Board of Directors. “We could have simply held traditional celebrations to mark the NAM’s milestone, but our mission is to look to the future and be the best stewards of our members’ investment. The Creators Wanted Fund and the campaign it will power are exactly what our industry and country need to build the talent pipeline and secure the future of manufacturing in the United States. I could not be more proud that the NAM is taking up this charge.”

According to a study by The Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, the skills gap is expected to leave 2.4 million manufacturing jobs unfilled by 2028. According to the NAM’s First Quarter Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey, more than 70% of manufacturers cite the inability to attract skilled workers as their top challenge.

“The NAM is the only organization prepared to take on this challenge in a bold and creative way—and CEOs and executives recognize its potential. The NAM gets results, and this campaign will deliver results,” said Farr. “Manufacturers across the country are growing, investing and hiring. All this success comes with a responsibility to work together to change minds about modern manufacturing and give more people the chance to have a job that pays well and makes a difference in the world.”

“We have a recruiting mission. Parents, students, veterans—all communities—need to hear a consistent and clear message from manufacturers: ‘Creators Wanted,’” said Seaton. “The Manufacturing Institute is a powerful resource for our industry, and through the Creators Wanted Fund, we’ll ensure the long-term success of transformative programs like Heroes MAKE America and the STEP Women’s Initiative. No one is better equipped to lead this historic effort than the NAM, so I’m proud to be a part of it.”

“The NAM is fortunate to have these three world-class business leaders at the helm of this effort,” said Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the NAM and chairman of the board of The Manufacturing Institute. “Manufacturers are keeping our promise to make a difference for our communities and our country. We have set ambitious goals that we intend to exceed. We will keep manufacturing front and center in 2020 and deliver the results our members expect and deserve.”