Recently, the machinery industry seems to have suddenly become popular, but is there really a trend behind this?
In fact, the machinery industry did not explode suddenly. Instead, the talent gap was magnified due to the withdrawal of the older generation of practitioners, the fault in the middle layer, and the reluctance of newcomers to join, and some scammers even took advantage of the opportunity to make money.
Let us analyze it in detail below.
First of all, why does the machinery industry suddenly become “hot”?
On the one hand, policy promotion and the development of high-end manufacturing have played a stimulating role in the machinery industry.
New energy vehicles, robots, semiconductor equipment, low-altitude economy and other fields are in urgent need of talents with mechanical background, and the country is also vigorously promoting high-end manufacturing.
On the other hand, the older generation of practitioners are retiring or changing careers in batches, and those born in the 1970s and early 1980s in workshops, craftsmanship, and old design positions are gradually withdrawing from the front line or switching to management positions, resulting in a serious aging of frontline technicians.
At the same time, there is a gap in the middle layer. Those who have the ability to work for 3 to 8 years and can independently draw pictures/make plans are the least. Companies are competing for them, which has driven up wages.
Young people are generally reluctant to enter the factory. They feel that the work is dirty and tiring, and they have to work shifts and overtime. The cost-effectiveness is low. Many people would rather deliver food than work in the machinery industry, and the retention rate of new employees is extremely low.
The recruitment platform shows “a gap of 350,000, and wages have risen sharply”, but this is actually a structural shortage of people. Not all industries are good, and low-end positions still have low wages and poor environments.
Secondly, the so-called “Learn to design in one month” on Douyin is all a trap.
Those propaganda claims that “one month of employment with zero foundation and a monthly salary of over 10,000 yuan” are pure deception.
Mechanical design is not just as simple as using software. It also requires knowledge of drawing, tolerances, material mechanics, technology, assembly, simulation, etc. It takes at least 1 to 2 years to get started normally, and 3 to 5 years to become a mature engineer.
These training routines usually only teach the mouse-click operations of SolidWorks/CAD, but do not teach the principles. The drawn things cannot be processed and used at all.
They charge tuition fees of 8,000 to 15,000 yuan. The so-called employment package is just a recommendation to work as a draftsman in a small low-wage factory. You may be fired after working for 3 months.
Moreover, information such as student salaries and cooperation with major manufacturers is also forged, and the contracts are not clearly written, making it very difficult to protect rights.
It can be said that teaching software does not mean teaching design, and those selling courses are not really technical.
Furthermore, students are flocking to apply for mechanical majors. Is this a real trend or are they being deceived?
There is indeed a shortage of people in high-end manufacturing fields such as robotics, semiconductor equipment, and new energy, and the salary is relatively considerable. Fresh graduates can earn 10-15K, and those with 3 years of experience can earn 200,000-300,000. However, the requirements are also very high, requiring a bachelor’s degree or above, a solid foundation, some knowledge of electronic control/programming, and project experience.
The general machinery industry, such as traditional equipment and small non-standard factories, is still in a state of “starving to death and unable to make a fortune”, with wages of 5-8K, a lot of overtime, and slow promotions.
Many students who apply for the mechanical major are brainwashed by the propaganda of “manufacturing power, high salary” and fail to see the reality at the bottom.
Finally, regarding the issue of whether it is “deceiving newcomers to take over”, there are elements of this aspect, but not entirely.
The company is indeed short of people and is willing to pay higher wages than in previous years to recruit new people. The essence is to use short-term benefits to make up for the long-term talent gap.
However, after new employees come in, they will most likely spend the first two years drawing pictures, doing odd jobs, and working overtime. Their growth is slow and their salary is average. Many people work for half a year and then leave.
It’s not that the old employees don’t want to do it, but they can’t do it and the cost-effectiveness is too low; it’s not that the newcomers can’t do it, but they just don’t want to endure it.
To sum up, the machinery industry is experiencing a structural recovery. There is a shortage of people at the low end and a shortage of people at the high end. It is not a high salary for everyone.
The so-called “learn to design in one month” is to pay IQ tax. The machinery industry requires slow work and a hard foundation, and there is no rush.
Those who want to join the industry can do it, but they must be prepared to endure hardships, hardships, and average wages in the first two years, and do not believe in the promotion of quick employment packages.
