Manufacturers across the UK are facing increasing challenges in attracting and retaining skilled workers. Faced with an aging workforce and shifting job requirements, knowledge gaps are starting to put pressure on the industry, while potentially hindering innovation and productivity.
At the same time, there is a real opportunity to bridge the generational divide by making better use of the experience and insights of older employees, while equipping younger workers with this first-hand knowledge. Additionally, new technologies, such as AI, can be embraced to help move the industry into the future.
Tackling the skills gap
One of the most pressing issues in the manufacturing industry today is the growing skills gap. As highlighted by Claire Hu Weber, Vice President of International Markets at Fluke Corporation: “It’s no longer just ‘important’ to bring young people into manufacturing, it’s mission critical. The skills gap is widening year after year, and the numbers don’t lie. In the UK, more than half of manufacturers expect up to a fifth of their workforce to walk out the door into retirement within the next decade”.
This is echoed by Michael DeMaria, Director of Product Management at Fluke Reliability, who believes that there is not just a skills gap, but a capability gap. “As experienced workers retire, industries risk losing the situational knowledge built through decades of trial, error, and high-stakes decision-making. At the same time, the next generation brings a new mindset – they expect smarter ways of working, tools that prevent unnecessary mistakes, and careers that are sustainable: mentally, physically, and professionally”.
Clearly this aging workforce is a critical challenge that needs to be recognised and mitigated, which is why it is so important to attract new talent into the industry.
“For young workers just starting out in their careers, having access to continuous and accessible learning can make all the difference when it comes to job satisfaction and motivation”, says Mark Williams, Managing Director EMEA at WorkJam. He denotes how: “having a more tailored approach to skills development allows new employees to build out their abilities and knowledge of the industry, therefore not only improving their individual performance but also the performance of the organisation as a whole. Additionally, providing other capabilities such as flexible shift scheduling and earned-wage access can make a new career in the industry much more attractive to the younger generation”.
Embracing the future of manufacturing
While looking at addressing the issues of today, manufacturers must also look at how to prepare for the future. This includes embracing increasing automation, with Volker Spanier, Head of Manufacturing Solutions at Epson EMEA, emphasising how the increasing accessibility of smarter and simpler tools and technologies is a turning point for manufacturers of all sizes.
“We are entering a new era in which machines are no longer rigid, single-task tools”, adds Spanier. “Far from replacing workers, these intelligent systems take on repetitive or hazardous tasks, freeing people to focus on creative, strategic, and value-adding work. This evolution not only enhances productivity but also helps create safer, more inclusive workplaces that attract a wider talent pool into the sector”.
Hand-in-hand with automation of course comes AI; there are a myriad of ways in which this technology can be leveraged to innovate the industry. One way in which AI can be utilised is across supply chains, where it can actually be a “critical enabler”, according to Simon Bowes, CVP Manufacturing Industry Strategy EMEA at Blue Yonder. “Predictive demand planning powered by AI helps manufacturers anticipate fluctuations, reduce overproduction, and align supply with real needs. The 2025 Blue Yonder Supply Chain Compass Report revealed 40% of leaders say AI is already changing how they operate, while 47% are using predictive AI to improve planning. Leaders cited the top benefits as better planning and predictability, faster decision-making, and better risk management”.
AI can also be used to help with the aforementioned skills gap, by enabling effective upskilling for employees. As Jesus Hernandez, Senior Vice President, EMEA at AVEVA concludes: “Forward thinking manufacturers are now also making the most of integrated AI-assistants. These provide guidance and assistance 24/7 to junior team members, imitating the expertise of senior employees with decades of practical know-how. By providing AI guides to turn to, businesses can offset the dilemma so many are facing: an aging workforce that is retiring and taking its hard-earned knowledge with them”.
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