The skilled labor shortage didn’t happen by accident.

We built it.

In this episode of the Machine Shop Growth Podcast, Kirk Phelps sits down with Andrew Skoog of Machinist X to unpack one of the hardest questions in manufacturing:

How did we let the skilled machinist pipeline get this thin — and what do we do now?

They dig into the real causes behind the shortage:

offshoring and trade shifts
generational gaps in the shop
gatekeeping of tribal knowledge
negative industry messaging
poor mentorship and broken career paths

But this conversation doesn’t stop at the problem.

It goes into what actually needs to change if manufacturing wants to win the next decade — from how we train and promote people, to how we talk about the trade, to why AI still won’t replace real machinists.

You’ll also hear:

why the “dying trade” narrative is dead wrong
what separates operators from skilled machinists
why effort and initiative still matter more than ever
how collaboration may be the missing piece in rebuilding the workforce

And here’s the twist:

The shortage may actually create one of the best long-term opportunities this industry has seen in years… but only for the shops and people willing to adapt.

If you care about the future of manufacturing, this is an episode you need to hear.