This is an appeal to vocational schools to add production digital printing, graphic design, and introduction to graphic communications to their current offerings.
The United States printing industry is a huge manufacturing segment, employing over a million workers. The challenge to acquire talent from traditional and nontraditional labor sources is daunting. Almost every graphic communications company we speak to is concerned about the increasing shortage of skilled labor.
The graphic communications industry shift to high tech manufacturing has created a huge demand for new skills and talents. In addition to this shift is that current workers are aging, with over 30% of current workers being over 55 years old. This is putting tremendous pressure on companies to recruit employees with the necessary skills.
Contrary to popular perception, printing, and related applications are not shrinking. Innovative applications enabled by new inkjet imaging technologies have created new solutions within the packaging, label, sign, cross-media, statement, book, and home accessory segments. Estimates this year from industry sources predict that over $56 Billion in revenue will be generated by digital printing alone.
The vocational schools that we work with are seeing extremely high placement rates for their graduating students. Every location in the country needs workers.
Unfortunately, we need more institutions to take up the challenge of preparing the future printing industry workforce. Also, some of those that are providing training for graphic designers and print workers need to immediately upgrade their curriculum to reflect current production imaging, software, and platform technologies.
In the past, the printing industry could count on hundreds of printing schools across the country to train skilled workers in various departments found in many printing companies. We need more vocational schools across the country to help prepare workers with up to date skills.
For those institutions, we offer an industry-developed curriculum, a full range of instructor resources and certifications. There should be nothing to hold back any institution that is looking to prepare students for high paying careers in the graphic communications industry.