The world seems to have unraveled. We raise children to believe that status and possessions are more important than purpose, stability, and community.
We are a nation built on growth and continuous improvement, yet we have lost sight of some fundamental aspects of the human condition. After the pandemic, we are more isolated than ever, often not knowing our neighbors or the people in our communities.
Fortunately, there is a place where our next generation can find connection, success, and most importantly, fulfillment. This part is production.
Meaningful work
There are countless jobs that provide employment without a purpose where you can watch and watch just to get a paycheck. However, we spend more time at work than anywhere else in life. Shouldn’t we feel a sense of happiness and satisfaction when we devote so much of our lives to something?
Manufacturing provides a meaningful career path in which your day-to-day work involves producing something for the world. You can help make vital parts for the Department of Defense to keep our country safe, or produce a part for a bridge that allows people to travel safely in your area, or assemble a device like a refrigerator that helps a family to prepare a quality meal on their table every night. At the end of the day, making something for others is a great way to feel personal satisfaction.
Community, not isolation
More than ever, people are disconnected from each other and feel isolated. With the rise of remote work, the ability to meaningfully connect has reached an all-time low. Years ago, communities used to rally around the city’s main employer, providing their support to local families. The parents would have a relationship as colleagues and their children would grow up knowing each other. Future generations will come to work with their fathers, uncles or family friends. This referral loop kept workplaces strong and accountability high.
A number of factors have disrupted the way people find work. Mobility has increased. People can travel more easily and pursue work elsewhere. Social mobility has also increased, allowing people to pursue roles they may not have had access to in the past. The workplace has been democratized through access to information about the employer, their environment and what they stand for. People can (and will!) do their homework in a workplace before devoting 40+ hours a week to them.
Connectivity in the workplace has been breaking down socioeconomic barriers for centuries. People who might not have connected otherwise get to know each other and share their lives for eight hours every day. Of course this creates a bond and strengthens communities as a result.
While some embrace remote work, others crave constant connection and purpose. For example, my business, Rust Belt Recruiting, could easily operate as a remote. Recruiters do this all the time. However, we are in the office together three days a week to maintain a connection and create a workplace that matters.
With manufacturing, there is minimal remote work — and certainly none on the production floor. These roles require people on the ground to produce things. For many, this workplace is meaningful and gives them a place to recover.
You show up to work every day to do something that matters with people who become your community—that’s the good thing in life. This type of work gives purpose and allows for an inner satisfaction that we all crave, regardless of income level.
Career development, valuable skills
A manufacturing workplace provides an environment where you can develop many different skills that will advance your career, in some cases quickly. Manufacturers are looking for smart talent to come in and solve critical issues. They have the infrastructure and willingness to train you for skills that will carry you throughout your career.
Instead of following a financial, legal or medical path as so many parents pushed their children in the 80s and 90s, the movement now is for the next generation to be happy, healthy and fulfilled. This can be achieved through the ways of the past, within the four walls of a factory, as well as in a downtown tower block or other white-collar environment.
Allowing future generations to have the freedom to pursue their interests and dreams, to be creators and creators, will be the greatest gift we can give them, as well as our country. The creation of workplaces with the convergence of various socio-economic groups that learn from each other is essential for the continued viability of our country.
Stability and work-life balance
Manufacturing has had its ups and downs in terms of employment stability. However, the future looks bright as renewal continues apace. The return of American manufacturing is happening before our eyes. When you think about career stability, manufacturing provides an often overlooked bright spot.
The value of a stable manufacturing environment extends beyond employment. It also shows up in your personal life, providing time for family, hobbies, and other fulfilling pursuits beyond “work.” This type of work-life balance has been shown to increase productivity in the workplace and also create a greater sense of satisfaction in all areas of life.
Another form of stability is how a controlled environment like a factory increases safety compared to other industrial careers like construction and transportation. With countless safety protocols and ongoing training around it, the ability to get home safely to your family at the end of the day appears favorably.
Manufacturing has long had a perception problem, and it’s time to highlight the industry’s positives. Working with your hands, making something meaningful, and leaving your workspace filled through connection is priceless. As we look ahead, manufacturing careers will be a promising option for young people to reclaim all that work that was offered to previous generations.
More must-read reviews posted by Luck:
The views expressed in Fortune.com comments are solely those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of Luck.
