Steel Products
The NexGen-eration of Steel Workers
Written by Becca Moczygemba
August 29, 2022
How do we attract younger people to the steel industry? The NexGen Metals Community was established to solve that problem.
We were privileged enough to have the group sit down and bring to light how the working landscape might evolve in the coming years.
Without question, having a great place to work is essential to attracting new talent. The NexGen group pointed out that millennials are consumers of the workplace and look for meaning in their work. If you’re going to spend a significant amount of your waking hours doing something, it should be fulfilling. “Younger workers are looking for something more personal, a place where they belong,” expressed Ciara Bunch, member of the NexGen panel. “We want to show up as our best selves and be challenged. It’s important that our voices and contributions matter,” she continued.
The pandemic was a catalyst for “The Great Resignation” that impacted all industries, proof that this generation is not simply seeking a paycheck, they want to be valued. “Gen Z and millennials are willing to leave organizations when we feel like we’re not heard or cannot impact change,” stated Bunch.
So how do we not only attract, but retain, new talent? NexGen suggests reevaluating the work environment as a whole and implementing flexible work arrangements, addressing corporate concerns such as productivity, accountability, and loyalty, as well as integrating better work-life balance and curating an amiable work environment. Additionally, Ben Snyder stressed the importance of benefits and including mental health care as a key component.
In a world where working in technology is attractive, manufacturing will need to step up its game. The current impression of manufacturing is antiquated. While more industrial organizations aren’t necessarily creating railways with anvil and hammer anymore, perception is everything. State-of-the-art facilities that integrate highly technological machinery can be utilized as a marketing tool to draw in new talent, but it doesn’t stop there.
Although younger generations aren’t showing up solely for the money, providing competitive wages is a substantial contributing factor. When companies are reporting record profits and six-figure bonuses for CEOs, but the hourly wage for desk-level or factory-level individuals doesn’t reflect the business’s success, friction may arise.
In short, the status quo is changing.
The NexGen Metals Community is an organization for those 40 years old and under who have established a career, or are just getting started, in the metals industry and are looking to deepen their experience. There is no cost to join NexGen and you can find more information here.
Have some news or just want to chat? Email me!
By Becca Moczygemba, Becca@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Becca Moczygemba
Read more from Becca MoczygembaLatest in Steel Products
Domestic CRC prices hold, import tags mixed
The price spread between US-produced cold-rolled (CR) coil and offshore products on a landed basis was flat in the week ended Dec. 6.
U.S. Steel says OCTG duty adjustment is too low
A newly adjusted anti-dumping duty on imports of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Argentina is too low, according to U.S. Steel. This past week, the Department of Commerce released the preliminary results of annual AD duty order reviews on OCTG from both Argentina and Mexico. It is reviewing imports during the one-year period that […]
US rig count rises, Canada count falls
The US drill rig count increased by seven this week, while the Canadian count dropped by 11, according to the latest data from Baker Hughes.
SMU market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the pricing and analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for “latest survey results.” Past survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results, or if […]
AISI: US steel shipments slip in October
Domestic steel shipments were down month over month and on-year in October.