The US manufacturing industry may need as many as 3.8 million new employees by 2033, according to a report by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute. However, more than 1.9 million of these jobs could go unfilled because of the skills gap and lack of applicants.

Manufacturing is also seeing increased demand for digital skills as products and manufacturing process become more complex, according to the report. For example, it cited a 75% increase in demand for simulation and simulation software skills. In addition, the fastest-growing manufacturing roles include statisticians, data scientists, engineers and computer and information systems managers.

“Pandemic-driven shifts have already created hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and now we are seeing increased demand for digital skills that need to be met or risk further widening of the talent gap,” Carolyn Lee, president and executive director at The Manufacturing Institute, said in a press release.

Manufacturers are taking steps to expand their talent pipelines.

“Companies must prioritize technology, training and talent development, and the investments that are driving growth will also require the industry to build out a talent ecosystem,” Lee said.

More than nine in 10 surveyed manufacturers said they are forming at least one partnership to improve job attraction and retention, and on average, they are partnering with four or more. The top five partnership types are technical colleges, 73%; industry associations, 58%; universities, 48%; state and regional economic development agencies, 47%; and K-12 schools, 44%.

The study’s survey also found that 47% of respondents said apprenticeships, work studies or internships at manufacturing companies would be the most effective way to increase interest in manufacturing as a career choice.

The report is based on an online survey of more than 200 US manufacturers, interviews with senior executives from manufacturing organization of all sizes and across all sectors, analysis of secondary data on labor supply and demand, and analysis from Deloitte’s economic team.