Insight Bite: Recruit and retain workers with disabilities.

Workers with disabilities remain an underutilized talent pool

Insight Bite: August 5, 2026.

Manufacturing job openings rose to 529,000 in May, up from 401,000 a year earlier, a reminder that the workforce challenge is not going away. But one opportunity may be hiding in how manufacturers define “qualified.” Workers with disabilities remain an underused talent pool, and skills-based hiring can help remove the “paper ceiling” that keeps strong candidates from being considered because of traditional education or experience requirements.

For manufacturers, this is not just a recruiting strategy; it's a competitiveness strategy. By focusing on what people can do, partnering with local workforce organizations and building clearer pathways through apprenticeships and training, manufacturers can expand their talent pool while creating workplaces that better reflect the communities around them.

Read the full article at Manufacturing Dive.