World Grain - November 2017 - 46

FEATURE

baby boomer

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milling industry is starting to feel the impact of the baby
boomer generation (those born from 1946 to 1964) leaving the workforce. Since Jan. 1, 2011, an estimated 10,000
baby boomers have been retiring each day in the United
States, according to the Pew Research Center, and that trend
is expected to continue through 2030.
During the 2017 International Association of Operative
Millers (IAOM) Conference & Expo in New Orleans,
Louisiana, U.S., Steve Doyle, vice-president of King Milling
and president of the IAOM, noted that 50% of the current
milling workforce in the United States is expected to retire
within the next decade.
With so many of its workers now at or nearing retirement
age, U.S. milling companies are working harder than ever to
attract new workers to their industry. Partnering with Kansas
State University (K-State), which is the only university in
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the Lenexa, Kansas, U.S.-based International Association
of Operative Millers (IAOM), the industry is taking unprecedented steps to attempt to make its workforce younger and
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Frances Churchill, NAMA instructor of milling science and
management at K-State, told World Grain the impact of the
baby boomer exodus from the workforce was something that
milling industry leaders have been discussing for years, but
it's only been in the last three years or so that a well-mapped
out strategy to replace them has been implemented.
"Traditionally our best recruiting technique has been word of
mouth," Churchill said. "That is no longer enough to get the numbers to support the milling industry. We have regrouped and revitalized our recruiting committee to get more ideas going again.
"A couple of ideas include inviting high school students to
Grain Science and Industry Day here at K-State and developing grain science-related lesson plans for high school science teachers. The biggest 'problem' seems to be the public's
awareness of the K-State Milling Science program and of the
industry in general."
Troy Anderson, senior director of operations at Ardent
46

by Arvin Donley

With 50% of its workforce expected
to retire in the next decade, the
U.S. milling industry is stepping up
recruiting efforts
Mills and a member of the IAOM employee relations committee that also includes Churchill, told World Grain the IAOMsponsored website called www.grainmillingcareers.com is
another new recruiting method. The website features information on job openings in the industry, descriptions of career
options and testimonials from milling industry professionals.
"I feel that has helped bring awareness of our industry and
is a great recruiting tool for our industry," Anderson said.
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our industry to potential talent so they understand the great career paths they can choose within our industry. That has been
a weakness in the past."
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the most glamorous occupation - the work is done in a dusty,
noisy and sometimes hot environment and employees sometimes work odd shifts since most mills run 24 hours a day, seven
days a week - it also is an attractive profession in other ways.
As Melinda Farris, IAOM executive vice-president, points
out, every student who graduates from the milling science
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with a starting salary that is typically in the neighborhood of
$50,000 to $60,000 per year, with an excellent chance for advancement. In some cases, moving expenses are paid.
"It's a stable, recession-proof career," Farris said. "And
you can travel the world if you want to. If you have a degree
in milling science from K-State you can go anywhere in the
world and get a job as a miller."
November 2017 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

http://www.grainmillingcareers.com http://www.World-Grain.com

World Grain - November 2017

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