Workforce challenges ahead for paper industry, panelists say
October 10, 2018According to wisbusiness.com panelists at a paper industry discussion in Appleton were optimistic about the future of the industry, but pointed to challenges ahead — chiefly, filling jobs.
“One of the biggest problems coming for the paper industry is the ‘silver tsunami,’” said Karyn Biasca, a professor and chair of the Paper Science and Chemical Engineering Department at UW-Stevens Point. “That is this upcoming wave of retirements of baby boomers.”
She says she’s been preparing students to backfill positions as retirees leave gaps in paper companies throughout the state.
“It could really be a crippling event for the paper industry if enough of their technical talent retired all at the same time without having some good talent to fill,” said Biasca, who spoke yesterday at the latest “Navigating the New Economy” event from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com at the Paper Discovery Center.
