Parents, let your kids go into manufacturing. It's vital to our nation's future.

There’s been a lot of talk about the future of U.S. manufacturing, but one thing is certain: its success is irrevocably tied to the country’s success. In a world challenged by a changing climate and surging demand for energy, our ability to innovate and manufacture new technology for our electric grid infrastructure is crucial.

We see the devastating weather events on the news all too frequently. To live in this new reality, we need more robust and resilient electrical infrastructure capable of withstanding and responding quickly to these increasingly severe and destructive storms. We need innovation to help us realize decarbonization goals and support the energy transition. And we need an electric grid capable of handling the surge in demand brought on by new energy-intensive technologies, such as artificial intelligence.

All of these demands require a thriving domestic manufacturing industry. While some say manufacturing is an industry of the past we should leave to other countries, the reality is that this sector is the key to a more resilient and sustainable energy future.

But many don’t realize that manufacturing offers a viable career path. As someone who works for an innovator and manufacturer of grid infrastructure technology, the human infrastructure gap keeps me up at night. At a time when our grid is being challenged more than ever before, our industry is headed towards a future where we won’t have the people or skills to support the modernization of our electrical infrastructure.

That’s why we need to change our perceptions of what a career in manufacturing looks like. When I speak with high school students, they’re often excited about the possibility of working in manufacturing. Their parents, however, resist the idea, fearing their kids are signing up for a life of drudgery.

High school students often grasp what their parents do not: manufacturing is a fascinating, well-paying, and crucial career path with limitless possibilities that don’t necessitate incurring overwhelming debt. Furthermore, they understand that a career in manufacturing is an opportunity to work with state-of-the-art technology while addressing society’s most pressing challenges.

No more dull, unsafe jobs

Historically, manufacturing jobs were seen as dull and dangerous. But today's manufacturing world looks completely different than it did in the ’70s, ’80s, or ’90s. Manufacturing facilities are clean and safe and feature advanced technologies that have turned our workspaces into modern, high-tech manufacturing labs. Today, manufacturing workers program robots, automate assembly processes, and build technology that creates a safer and more resilient future for the rest of the world.

According to the National Science Foundation, an estimated 19 million Americans are skilled technical workers without a bachelor’s degree who work in vital roles requiring science and engineering skills. These jobs include machinists, software developers, first-line production specialists, and repair workers.

Critically, skilled technical jobs can offer a path to a stable, middle-class life for people with a high school degree. The median salary for an experienced technical worker is nearly $50,000 annually — roughly $12,000 more than non-STEM workers without a bachelor’s degree. As an added benefit, many companies pay workers to continue their education. My company is also an employee-owned company, allowing all team members to build retirement savings and share in the company’s success.

While I decided to earn a four-year degree before starting my 25-year career at S&C, I'd be thrilled if one of my children wanted to join the business straight from high school — and become the third generation of the family to work in manufacturing.

I am proof of the success this field can bring, and there’s no reason to expect the demand for manufacturing workers will decline any time soon. Instead, the number of manufacturing roles will only increase as today’s workers retire, companies seek to diversify their supply chains, and the demand for manufactured goods continues to grow. The U.S. manufacturing sector could require some 3.8 million jobs to be filled within the next decade, according to a 2024 study from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute.

The best jobs, though, don’t just provide a paycheck; they are engaging and give a sense of purpose. I’ve seen firsthand what jobs in manufacturing can do. Skilled technical workers are helping to solve our nation’s most pressing issues. They’re inventing ground-breaking equipment, installing new energy sources, building semiconductors, and modernizing our grid for increasing challenges.

As a father to three children, a well-paying job that comes with growth opportunities and meaningful work is precisely the kind of future I want for them.

That’s why I’m now encouraging other parents, schools, and our communities to join me in encouraging our kids to consider a career in manufacturing. It could benefit their future — and the future of the country.

Jim Johnson Jr. is chief operating officer of S&C Electric Co. in Chicago.

The views and opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Chicago Sun-Times or any of its affiliates.

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