By Julie Davis, AEM Senior Vice President of People Strategy --
In today’s competitive industry landscape, building a strong workforce isn’t just an HR priority – it’s a strategic imperative.
Acquiring skilled and qualified people to fill open positions has long been a significant challenge for non-road equipment manufacturers, and it remains a pressing concern for organizations of all types and sizes as 2026 gets under way.
Industry statistics tell a similar story. In 2024, Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute teamed up on a survey of more than 200 manufacturing firms. Two-thirds of respondents said recruiting and retaining workers was their top business challenge. A year later, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found there were nearly half a million open manufacturing jobs in the United States. And, even in the new year, manufacturing labor shortages continue to persist.
The evidence is clear, and the takeaway is simple: Organizational leaders must continue to prioritize workforce strategy and execute tactics to help anticipate future needs, prepare for change, and ensure continuity in critical roles.
And when those leaders are asked what is being done within their organizations to move the needle as it relates to workforce recruitment and retention, it’s not uncommon to receive one of two responses:
“We’re doing everything we can do.”
Or…
“Well, I’m not sure. We’re trying this and that, and then we did this, and it was a little crazy, but it worked.”
The latter response suggests a curiosity often found in individuals who are willing to think “outside the box” and place talent strategy alongside business strategy at c-suite table. More importantly, however, these are the individuals who actually end up winning the war for talent.
The good news is a wealth of strategies exist to help attract and retain the workforce of tomorrow, and AEM is here to help bring them to light through its Workforce Development Committee.
Comprised of representatives employed in a diverse set of organizational roles and from a wide range of companies, AEM’s Workforce Development Committee meets virtually once a month and offers a collaborative forum for industry professionals to:
- Speak about pressing workforce challenges and opportunities
- Foster peer-to-peer dialogue
- Share best practices
- Develop actionable workforce strategies
Ultimately, the monthly meetings of like-minded industry peers seek to provide a broad perspective on workforce issues and their organizational impact. Although there is a core group of committee members who lead and direct the committee, unlike many AEM committees, this meeting is open to any members who would be interested in attending. Those in attendance are invited to share their own impactful strategies or initiatives to the group, or they can suggest third-party guests to be invited to share valuable information and insights. The first fifteen minutes of the meeting is devoted to committee work, and what follows is a workforce presentation and active discussion that lasts 45-60-minutes.
And as 2026 gets underway, the AEM Workforce Development Committee is working to ensure its areas of focus are aligned with the evolving needs of the non-road equipment manufacturing industry. For this year, the committee will emphasize four foundational pillars:
- Recruitment
- Retention
- Development
- Technology (with a special emphasis on artificial intelligence)
Examples of recent and upcoming topics include best practices in apprenticeship programs, updates on educational partnerships, marketing approaches for workforce programs, and the integration of AI into workforce development. While a calendar of topics is maintained, members are encouraged to advance new topic ideas and actively participate in both presenting and discussion, ensuring that the committee remains responsive and relevant to the needs of its participants.
When it comes to workforce, simply saying “We’re doing everything we can do” and going about tried and true strategies and tactics just isn’t going to cut it anymore. The industry is always in the midst of change, and the ways in which companies go about finding the people who makes the equipment that builds, feeds, and powers the world must evolve along with it.
Ensuring workforce strategy remains at the forefront of an organization’s priorities is a must. That means staying informed about best practices, emerging trends, and innovative approaches to talent management, and there’s no better way level up in that regard than by attending AEM’s monthly Workforce Development Committee Meetings.
Want to invest in your team, expand your network, and keep workforce issues at the top of your agenda? Visit AEM’s Workforce Solutions page or email me at jdavis@aem.org.
