PrintAs U.S. manufacturing rebounds and reshoring efforts intensify, the persistent shortage of skilled trades professionals presents a formidable challenge. Tool and die makers, automation specialists, and CNC machinists are increasingly critical to the operational success of advanced manufacturing. Yet, many technical programs struggle to fill seats. This LinkedIn Live conversation between Mark Rosenberry of DMACC and Stuart Spencer of Accumold highlights both the challenge and the practical pathways being forged to reverse this trend.
The Enrollment Dilemma in Skilled Trades
Despite robust demand, programs like tool and die across the country face declining enrollment. But Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and Accumold’s partnership is reversing that trend. “We really have to fight for those students,” said Rosenberry, Chair of Tool and Die and Advanced Manufacturing at DMACC. He noted that while welding programs fill quickly, machining programs often lag behind—primarily due to lack of awareness and outdated perceptions.
The program first gained nationally attention June of 2018 when Bloomberg interviewed Accumold CEO Roger Hargens on the program’s success. Historically, DMACC hosted large on-campus recruitment events. Post-COVID, Rosenberry pivoted to smaller, high-touch engagements with individual high schools. These visits include hands-on projects and one-on-one mentoring, offering students a tactile sense of what a career in machining entails. “We are contacting high schools individually and asking them to bring in interested students—parties of four or five… they spend three or four hours with our students,” he explained.
Bridging the Gap waith Industry Partnerships
One of the most impactful programs supporting workforce development is the Accumold Scholars initiative. This scholarship program, in partnership with DMACC, fully funds tuition for students in tool and die, automation, and industrial maintenance. Students work part-time at Accumold during their studies and commit to one year of full-time employment post-graduation.
“We’ve had nearly 100 students go through the Accumold Scholars program,” said Spencer. “Not only do they earn a wage and graduate debt-free, but they also have access to full-time positions and opportunities for advancement.”
Accumold has also expanded its efforts to include high school outreach. Through its student learner program, high school juniors and seniors gain exposure to real-world manufacturing environments, bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry application.
Overcoming Cultural and Educational Stigma
A key barrier remains: societal perception. “There’s still a stigma that success equals a four-year degree,” said Spencer. Rosenberry echoed the sentiment, pointing to the mismatch between educational choices and workforce needs. “About 80% of jobs only require a two-year degree, but nearly 80% of students attempt four-year programs.”
The consequence is both economic and operational. Students graduate with significant debt and often struggle to find high-value roles, while manufacturers face unfilled positions in high-demand sectors. “Parents and counselors are often unaware of what toolmakers do or what these careers look like,” said Rosenberry. “But once they see the environment—clean, high-tech, team-oriented—it changes perceptions.”
Practical Strategies for Replication
For manufacturers and educators outside of Iowa, the message is clear: proactive engagement is essential. “If every company went to schools and showed students what kind of lives they could have with these jobs, it would be an easier sell,” said Rosenberry. Accumold reinforces this by hosting tours, engaging with parents, and collaborating with superintendents and guidance counselors.
Spencer emphasized the need for industry to take the lead: “We plant a lot of seeds. We water the heck out of them. That’s how you build a sustainable pipeline.”
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Attracting students to skilled trades is not a passive endeavor. It requires systemic collaboration, innovative scholarship models, and a rethinking of how technical careers are introduced to students and families. The Accumold-DMACC model provides a replicable blueprint: tight integration of education and employment, early engagement, and continuous support.
As manufacturing evolves, so must our approach to workforce development. The future of the skilled trades lies not only in machine precision—but in human connection.