Building Skills that Transfer

What We Found

While each advanced manufacturing industry has unique technologies and workforce needs, M-SPIRE's research found significant overlap in the skills employers seek across Medical Technology, Semiconductor & Microelectronics Manufacturing, Sustainable Plastics Manufacturing, and Clean Technology.

Technical competencies such as quality assurance, process improvement, production operations, data analysis, and equipment maintenance appeared repeatedly across industries. Likewise, durable skills—including communication, teamwork, problem solving, and adaptability—were consistently valued regardless of sector.

This overlap suggests that many workforce skills are highly transferable, allowing individuals to move between industries as technologies evolve and career opportunities emerge.

Why It Matters

Preparing students for a single occupation or industry may no longer be enough. As manufacturing continues to evolve, employers increasingly need workers who possess a strong foundation of technical and durable skills that can be applied in a variety of settings.

For educators, this creates an opportunity to design programs around core competencies that serve multiple industries rather than narrowly focusing on one sector. For employers, transferable skills make it easier to recruit talent from adjacent industries and develop employees as workforce needs change.

Ultimately, a workforce built on transferable skills is more resilient, more adaptable, and better positioned to support Minnesota's long-term economic growth.

Questions Leaders Should Consider

  • Which technical and durable skills are consistently valued across multiple manufacturing industries?

  • Are education and training programs emphasizing transferable competencies alongside industry-specific knowledge?

  • How can employers better recognize transferable skills when recruiting talent from related industries?

  • Could stronger collaboration across manufacturing sectors help create more flexible career pathways for Minnesota workers?