A 2021 study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute projects the manufacturing skills gap in the U.S. could result in 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030.

Fortunately, manufacturing companies can alleviate the issue by drawing from a large pool of talent known as Generation Z, the oldest members of which are turning 26 this year. 

However, a gap in age also comes with a gap in mindsets and manufacturers have struggled to accommodate the youngest generation of workers. Combine that with misconceptions about Gen Z, such as, “They don’t want to work hard” or “They just want the easy way out.”

Could it be that they just want to work differently?

In this “Gen Z in Manufacturing” interview, Seyi Oluwashina, a 25-year-old employee at Siemens, discussed his transition from an intern to full-time at Siemens, the aspects of the company that made him want to stay, the mindset of Gen Z-ers in manufacturing and how manufacturers can adapt to attract more talent from the younger demographic.

Download and listen to the audio version below and click here to subscribe to the Today in Manufacturing podcast.