Page 29 - Neath Port Talbot Skills Report 2024

Current Skill Requirements
Job Posting for manufacturing are on a steady
increase and unique postings have been
steadily increasing since 2018 (albeit a small
drop during the pandemic).
With an average of around 2 unique postings
per job fulfilment, this indicates that the labour
market is available for the jobs advertised.
However, this could be due to increasing the
advertised wage, which has risen nearly 50%
since 2020. The concern here is that the
workforce could be transient in terms of
moving for more money and doing similar
work.
Within the last 12 months, the most advertised
roles are:
• Mechanical Engineers
• Welding
• Science, Engineering and Production
Technicians
• Engineering Technicians
• Electrical Engineers *
• Engineering Professionals
• Production Managers and Directors in
Manufacturing
• Transport and storage
* Being the most difficult to fill
Manufacturing
Manufacturing future for Wales: framework’
Research, development and innovation
identified as key drivers in responding to the
challenges of increased digitalisation and
automation, particularly with respect to
supporting the acceleration of SMEs and their
supply chains
Innovation support mechanisms (SMART) help
technology businesses to digitally transform
priority industries and public services,
supporting emerging technologies in artificial
intelligence, automation, smart living and data.
Supporting initiatives with the potential to
enhance our reputation - such as a digital,
artificial intelligence and automated hotspot,
including the UK’s first National Software
Academy, a new National Cyber Security
Academy and the Wales Data Nation
Accelerator
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are
helping transform manufacturing businesses,
enabling them to bring in new skills and the
latest academic thinking to deliver a specific
strategic innovation project through a
knowledge-based partnership.
WG introduced a SMART Productivity service,
offering manufacturing companies support for
determining the suitability of new
digital/automation processes including
specifying and planning their implementation.
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