If you’re an Australian manufacturer, you’re well aware that currently there’s a shortage of skilled workers. The bad news is that numerous government studies have predicted an even greater shortage in the future. However, the good news is that there are some things you can do to help the situation improve.
Perhaps one of the biggest problems facing talent-hungry manufacturers is one of perception – that is, manufacturing is a dirty, dangerous place that requires little thinking or skill from its workers and offers little opportunity for personal growth or career advancement.
The reality, of course, is that many manufacturing companies offer good opportunities both for students right out of school and also for experienced, older and skilled workers.
In general, workers in manufacturing receive a better salary package than in other sectors, work on highly sophisticated equipment, gain new skills and more education and play a pivotal role in the decision-making process.
These are what we public relations experts call “key talking points.” – messages that need to be heard over and over to effect a real change in people’s perceptions.
So the question is, how can you make that happen?
Perhaps the easiest and most cost-effective ways you can change public perceptions is by hiring public relations (PR) experts. After all, the word ‘public’ in PR actually refers to the public at large.
Not only are PR people well-versed in positively changing the public perception of a company or for that matter an entire industry sector, when it comes to the cost, hiring a PR firm, like The Word Press on annual basis usually costs about one-third of the cost of hiring a green, junior marketing assistant.
So not only will you be able to change the perception of your industry or company with the help of seasoned, former journalists and editors that are well-connected to the greater journalist community; you will also be able to do it for the cost of hiring a tea lady.