To ensure that the U.S. precision tooling and machining industry has an adequate and capable workforce now and into the future, the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) is launching a new workforce development program in partnership with the federal government – Precision JOBS for American Manufacturing (PJAM).
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, job opportunities particularly for machinists, tool and die makers and mold makers are expected to continue to be excellent, with total machinist openings of 40,000 to 70,000 in the shops and the OEMs. The number of workers obtaining the skills and knowledge necessary to fill these jobs is expected to be less than the number of job openings arising each year from employment growth and retiring workers. Harry C. Moser, President of GF AgieCharmilles in June of 2007, outlined the specifics of this phenomenon in his presentation, "A Career in Toolmaking or Machining Technologies: The Right Choice for Students, Community & Country".