Over the next decade, nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled in the US. However, the skills gap is expected to leave 2 million of these jobs unfilled. The skills gap is widening due to factors like retiring baby boomers and economic expansion creating new jobs. Additionally, negative perceptions of manufacturing careers and a lack of technical skills are exacerbating the shortage of qualified workers. To address this challenge, manufacturers will need to improve training programs for current employees and collaborate with educational institutions to strengthen the talent pipeline for years to come.