Overtime, Shift Work & Compliance: The Hidden Payroll Risks Most Manufacturers Miss
In manufacturing, people keep the line moving, literally. Workforce management isn’t just about scheduling; it’s about protecting your business, your margins, and your team. But here’s the truth: manufacturers face some of the most complex payroll risks of any industry, especially when overtime, shift differentials, multi-state operations, and premium pay rules enter the mix. And […]
Reshoring Manufacturing in 2025–26: Why Workforce Infrastructure, Not Tariffs, Decides Who Wins
Reshoring headlines are everywhere. Factory construction is up, incentives abound, and policy is noisy. But here’s the hard truth: announcements don’t equal output. The biggest bottleneck isn’t capital, it’s people. Manufacturers that win reshoring in 2025–26 are the ones building workforce infrastructure: hiring pipelines, compliant payroll, time & labor accuracy, skills development, and day-one retention. […]
Aging Workforce + Automation: How Manufacturers Can Transfer Knowledge Before It Walks Out the Door
Across the country, manufacturers are feeling the pressure: skilled workers are retiring faster than new talent can be trained. And for small and midsize manufacturers, the shift hits even harder. When a senior technician or line lead walks out the door, decades of hands-on knowledge often leave with them. Pair this with accelerated automation, new […]
Why Manufacturers Are Losing New Hires in the First 90 Days And How to Fix It
Manufacturing leaders are experiencing an unsettling trend: new hires are walking out the door faster than ever. For small and mid-sized plants, this hurts more than just productivity, it hits morale, safety, and your bottom line. The first 90 days of employment have become a breaking point. And in today’s reshoring-driven, high-demand environment, manufacturers simply […]
The New Skills Gap in Manufacturing: How SMB Plants in D.C. Can Compete for Talent Against Bigger Employers
Manufacturing in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding region is evolving faster than most small and midsize businesses (SMBs) can hire. Automation, new technologies, compliance demands, and shifting workforce expectations have created a new type of skills gap, one that isn’t just about technical ability. Today’s gap is about finding people who can grow, adapt, and […]
2026 Manufacturing Workforce Outlook: Why SMB Manufacturers Need an Adaptive Talent Strategy
As manufacturers enter 2026, uncertainty continues to define the industry, volatile demand, shifting tariffs, reshoring pressures, and rapid technology adoption are reshaping workforce requirements. Deloitte’s 2026 Manufacturing Industry Outlook highlights a reality every SMB manufacturer now feels: the competition for skilled labor has never been more intense. According to Deloitte, one-third of executives say their […]
Workforce Development in Manufacturing: How Virginia Businesses Can Build, Train, and Retain Skilled Talent
Manufacturing across Virginia is accelerating, from advanced machining in Lynchburg to aerospace and robotics in Northern Virginia to shipbuilding along the coast. But as exciting as growth is, one challenge consistently rises to the top for small and mid-sized manufacturing companies: Finding, developing, and keeping the people who power your business. At PeopleWorX, we believe […]
Regional Spotlight: Manufacturing Workforce Development in Virginia
Workforce development for manufacturing in Virginia has never been more critical. Manufacturing has long been the backbone of the state’s economy, from the shipyards of Hampton Roads to advanced aerospace in Northern Virginia and food processing in the Shenandoah Valley. The Virginia manufacturing workforce supports more than 200,000 jobs statewide, powered by craftsmanship and innovation. […]