Overcoming Challenges With Workforce Development

WHEN ASKED “What’s your current biggest challenge?” the unanimous answer for print service providers at tradeshows and industry events, during phone calls and board meetings, on social media, and in Brain Squad surveys is hiring. Finding skilled employees who have a passion for print, don’t ghost you after accepting the job, or aren’t “quietly quitting” seems to be incredibly difficult for all of you.

The print industry needs to do a better job advocating for itself, specifically to younger, more diverse people. This is why we’ve dubbed the July/August edition the “Youth Issue.” All four features highlight ways you can find the next generation of designers, operators, and installers.

Results from our first-ever salary survey with Keypoint Intelligence can be found here. Use this data to make informed hiring decisions, then learn how to retain those hires in areas such as networking; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and culture. Next, go through our list of higher education opportunities for the print industry, including trade schools, training programs, and universities, on this page. Last but certainly not least, see how providing students with wide-format technology and knowledge can create forever fans of digital print as we highlight six students from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Use these tools to not only expand your business, but also continue to grow the entire industry.