Olathe manufacturer hosts educators and student interns to address skills gap

The manufacturing skills gap – which is now anticipated to leave 2.1 million jobs unfilled by 2030 – could cost the U.S. economy as much as $1 trillion, according to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. Finding talent is harder now than before the pandemic. How is the industry responding?

Webco, an Olathe-based metal fabricator, invited educators from across the region to learn about all the various aspects of the manufacturing industry from front office to the floor. Teachers left the two-week externship with a better understanding of how to guide their students in careers in manufacturing and engineering. In addition to externships for educators, Webco offered five-week internships for high school students.