Young Australians Discover New Face of Manufacturing

According to the pundits, manufacturing has been dead or dying for years, not true, manufacturing is diverse dynamic and very much alive and it needs people to staff it.

Australia has a strong manufacturing sector with a proud legacy. In 2025, manufacturing will contribute more than $100 billion to the Australian economy and employ nearly a million workers across various industries nationwide. But with an ageing workforce and skills shortages in priority areas, there is a need to attract the next generation.

“Our 2024 Workforce Plan identified that many people weren’t even considering a career in manufacturing due to outdated misconceptions that the work was repetitive, dirty or poorly paid. We want people to broaden their search and see the modern face of manufacturing that exists today,” Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance CEO, Sharon Robertson says.

The Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance has launched Make It ManuFACTuring, a new campaign designed to show young Australians that manufacturing is a modern, innovative and future-focused career choice.

Created with direct input from industry leaders, the campaign aims to challenge outdated stereotypes about the sector and replace them with authentic stories, showcasing real people thriving in a wide range of manufacturing roles.

Rolling out across television, radio, outdoor advertising, social media, and a new dedicated website, Make It ManuFACTuring speaks directly to students, parents, and career advisors. It focuses on the message that manufacturing today is high-tech, creative, secure, and full of opportunity.

“This campaign is a result of industry engagement and consultation and aims to help address skills shortages that exist across the sector,” explains Manufacturing Industry Skills Alliance CEO, Sharon Robertson.

Across the campaign, Make it ManuFACTuring highlights that there are many more opportunities in manufacturing than people realise. The underlying message is - just give it a go - even some work experience can open your eyes to possibilities available.

Make It ManuFACTuring will run as a pilot across Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland for an initial period of three months, and be closely monitored through surveys and digital analytics to measure impact and inform future national expansion.