I've witnessed something upsetting lately. I’ve been in a number of meetings where the subject of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs has elicited a heated response—debate, eye rolling, flat out anger. This is a microcosm of the debate playing out across the country. It seemed everyone embraced DEI after the tragic death of George Floyd and now the pendulum has swung back with a vengeance. DEI is polarized and politicized, with some pundits even claiming it is dead. This makes me incredibly sad. I think many people are caught up in the words and identities of whether someone believes in DEI or not, versus the actions we can and are taking to welcome everyone into our companies. Including everyone in manufacturing is not only the right, fair, and just thing to do, it’s the smart thing. We have a massive talent shortage and a dwindling population. There are 0.75 people for every open job in the U.S. right now. If we EXCLUDE rather than INCLUDE, there is simply no way manufacturing can grow. The good news is, despite the debate over politics, philosophy, and programs, I believe reports of DEI’s demise are greatly exaggerated. I’m seeing something very different on the shop floor. Many manufacturers in Northeast Ohio are actively working to expand their talent pools and MAGNET is proud to be part of this effort. In the past two years, we’ve helped more than 2,000 diverse candidates start careers in manufacturing. In this same period, our regional industry has also seen a 20% increase in people of color and women moving into manufacturing leadership roles. They may not call it DEI, but these manufacturers are actively using strategies to recruit people who’ve been traditionally shut out of our industry—and creating an environment where they can thrive. I explore this hot topic in my latest @Forbes piece: https://lnkd.in/eYq7yfBB I’d also love to hear your thoughts. #DEI #manufacturing #forbes #manufacturingtalent MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network
Naji H. Kelley
1mo
Moving conversations into action from diverse candidates to acquire existing manufacturing companies, hiring for their companies, and diversifying supply chains across NEO and beyond can be helpful. I don't see or hear enough conversations around diverse owned/led manufacturing firms or suppliers in the mainstream conversation. Collaboration among diverse and non-diverse led firms to go after contracts, expand products/services, etc. could also be a value-add for the overall manufacturing industry.
Mark G. Gardner
1mo
This is another sad fallout from our polarized politics. People are people. We need good American workers. They should come from all walks of life and all backgrounds. An adjacent phenomenon is the ongoing debate over immigration. We need immigrants. Immigrants built this country. The political pushback is being driven by racism. The white (barely) majority has been whipped into a frenzy of protectionism. Forget politics. Think business. We need talent and we need it now. MAGNET's work stands as a beacon of hope in these crazy times. Please don't back down.
Eddy Kraus
1mo
Great thoughts . The other segment here in Solon with a large and expanding Manufacturing base is many employers are willing to hire job seekers who may have a disability whether physical or cognitive. This segment of our population has historically been shut but now looked upon as tremendous employees
Jeffrey Spahn
1mo
So compelling, as always Ethan. I would like to add that according to the evolutionary biology principle of consilience, creating through our differences is the fundamental impulse of life. Think procreation. We are created from the energies of opposite sexes. It's in our DNA. Learning to make a difference through our differences innovates and explodes innovation.
Joe Brady
1mo
Thank you for sharing this - your observations are spot on
Well said Dr. Karp. For manufacturing firms to succeed and survive in the long term we will need to continue to focus on recruiting, developing, and retaining ALL the available talent.
Rebecca Morgan
1mo
💯
Ira Kaplan
1mo
Well said.
Helping manufacturers improve throughput, customer service, and cash flow by creating lean processes.
1moWe need to call out the 800-pound gorilla in the room...the anti-DEI folks, pretty much all of whom are on the far right, aren't the least bit interested in making this a better country. They are white nationalists who harbor the darkest of racist and homophobic sentiments. Period. After decades of telling us that the best thing we can do for business is leave them alone, they are suddenly telling business who they can and can't hire and how they can train and communicate with their own employees. After decades of telling us that college campuses were bastions of "thought policing" by the left, they are telling educators what books they can and can't use and what they can and can't say to students. A bunch of us knew what their agenda was all those decades ago. Now the rest of the country is beginning to see that that agenda was dishonest from the start.