By Flexxbotics: 4/4/2023
5 Tips For Hiring a CNC Machinist During a Labor Shortage
In today’s competitive job market, it is increasingly difficult to find skilled workers in certain industries. CNC machining is no exception. There is a global shortage of experienced machinists to operate the complex machinery and produce parts. So how should machine shops go about the hiring process? This article provides 5 tips that will help.
1. Look beyond traditional hiring methods
During a labor shortage, it is important to think outside of the box when it comes to finding and attracting talent. Instead of relying solely on job boards or recruitment agencies, consider reaching out to local trade schools, technical colleges, and other training programs. These institutions often have graduates who are looking for work and may be a perfect fit for your shop.
2. Invest in training and development
CNC machining is complex and requires ongoing training and development. Investing in training helps to upskill your existing workforce. This often leads to higher job satisfaction and increased value/contribution to your machine shop. Examples include on-the-job training, attending industry conferences and trade shows, and offering tuition reimbursement for advanced education.
3. Create a positive work environment
A positive work environment is vital for attracting and retaining talent. Things like flexible work schedules, a comfortable workspace, and opportunities for professional growth. By creating a culture of respect, collaboration, and continuous improvement, you can build a team of skilled machinists who are dedicated to your organization’s success.
4. Streamline your hiring process
Having a long-drawn-out hiring process is one of the biggest mistakes you can make during a labor shortage. By simplifying your application and interview process, providing clear job descriptions and expectations, and timely feedback you have the best chance of securing talent, quickly.
5. Consider CNC automation
Machine shops are increasingly turning to CNC automation to help solve the labor shortage. By adopting robotic machine tending, not only can you alleviate the challenge of hiring and retaining skilled machinists, but you can increase productivity and reduce operational costs. Automation can also free up your skilled workers to focus on more complex tasks, and gives you a competitive edge when hiring new talent.
In summary, hiring skilled CNC machinists during a labor shortage can be hard, but it is not impossible. By looking beyond traditional hiring methods, investing in training and development, creating a positive work environment, streamlining your hiring process, and considering CNC machine tending automation, you can find and hire the best talent for your machine shop.
Learn more about CNC automation here