Deloitte and MI Study Shows Potential for AI to Accelerate Manufacturing Skills Training

Analysis estimates manufacturing technician employment could grow six times faster than production occupations in manufacturing between 2025 and 2030

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study from Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute (MI) examines how artificial intelligence (AI) could help manufacturers address persistent workforce shortages by expanding the pool of qualified applicants, reimagining workflows, and supplementing on-the-job training.  

The study focuses on in-demand manufacturing technician roles and how embedding AI into new workflows could help deliver critical knowledge, skills and guidance to a wider pool of workers in adjacent fields with similar skillsets. The analysis identifies nearly 2 million technicians in adjacent industries whose broad skills may be transferable to manufacturing. These workers could represent an important source of talent for manufacturers seeking to broaden pathways into technician roles and strengthen their workforce pipeline, and AI could play a crucial role.

The need is only growing: Deloitte analysis estimates that manufacturing technician employment could grow six times faster than production occupations in manufacturing between 2025 and 2030. Analysis also indicates that employers may need to fill 2.3 million job openings across manufacturing and adjacent-industry technician occupations during the same period, due to both employment growth and replacement needs from retirements, other labor force exits, and occupational transfers.

The specificity of skills and knowledge required to fill the nearly half-million open manufacturing technician roles has led to a critical skills gap and remains a significant challenge for both manufacturers and aspiring manufacturing workers. By digitizing technical knowledge and putting critical information at workers' fingertips, AI could help bridge skills gaps, reduce time spent searching for answers, empower workers transitioning from adjacent fields, and enable experienced manufacturing workers to focus on higher-value tasks. There is an opportunity to augment human judgment and make technical capabilities more accessible.

"AI has the potential to change not only how manufacturing work gets done, but how people prepare for and succeed in these critical roles," said Manufacturing Institute President Carolyn Lee. "This research points to an important opportunity to use technology to expand pathways into manufacturing, accelerate skills development and give workers new tools to compliment the knowledge and judgment they bring to the job. By building AI fluency and digital skills into the training programs we already know work, we can prepare more people for the jobs of the future, close critical skills gaps, and strengthen America's manufacturing workforce." 

"AI could help manufacturers make technical expertise more accessible while preserving the judgment and experience of the people doing the work," said Steve Shepley, Industrial Products and Construction Sector leader, Deloitte. "The industry now has the opportunity to redesign workflows, broaden pathways into technician roles, and give workers the support they need to develop and perform in more complex jobs. Organizations can consider deliberate investment in skills, trust and the workforce ecosystems that connect employers, educators and talent."

About the Manufacturing Institute
The Manufacturing Institute works to build and strengthen the manufacturing workforce for individual opportunity, community prosperity and a competitive manufacturing industry for the future. This is done through implementing groundbreaking initiatives, convening industry leaders, conducting innovative research and promoting public policy that supports the sector as it meets the opportunity of modern manufacturing. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, the MI is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with solutions to address the toughest workforce issues. For more information on the MI, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.

About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 9,000 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters for our people, clients, and communities. We bring together distinct talents, technologies, disciplines, and an ecosystem of alliances to help tackle today's most complex business challenges and drive long-term progress. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 180 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 470,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

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SOURCE Deloitte