Manufacturing companies are optimistic about the upcoming year, according to the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance’s 16th annual “Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Vitality Index Study.”
NEWMA released the study at its Quarterly Membership meeting at Fox Valley Technical College Dec. 17. Taylor Vande Vyver, marketing manager at U.S. Lubricants and chair of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s Communications taskforce, shared the results, which serves as an indication of the strength and vitality of manufacturing employers in the New North.
“This year’s report finds that manufacturers expect increased sales and strong hiring in 2026.” Vande Vyver said. “Almost half of the manufacturers plan to hire in the first quarter of 2026 in which the hardest roles to fill are machinist and welders/fabricator occupations.”
The Alliance has commissioned the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Center for Customized Research and Services to administer the study over the past 16 years. Presidents and CEOs of northeast Wisconsin manufacturing companies with at least $3 million in revenue and 25 or more employees participated in the study. In total, 107 manufacturers participated in the survey conducted in fall 2025, answering questions related to financial health, business growth expansion, plant modernization, supply chain constraints, 2026 hiring intentions and potential skills shortages.
Respondents said their companies are financially solid, in which 93 percent projecting their firms’ financial health in the next 6 to 12 months will be “healthy” or “quite healthy.” Sales are expected to be strong with 68% believing they will have increased sales in 2026. Investment in their companies continues to be strong with 64% reported that they are investing in plant modernization. In addition, 25% report they plan to expand. This is 10% more than the previous year’s expansion and modernization study findings.
“One of the greatest concerns from manufacturers is not finding the talent they need,” noted Ann Franz, the NEW Manufacturing Alliance’s executive director. “The study found three out of four manufacturers are concerned that they will not find the workforce they need in the new year.” This is not as high as in past years, in which 91% said they couldn’t find the talent they need. Franz added, “The difficulty in finding talent is great when you compare that the first year of the study had only 29% reporting a concern in finding talent.”
Employees such as Computer Numerical Control machinists, operators, welders/fabricators, engineers, industrial maintenance technicians, general labor/production workers, and supervisors remain difficult to locate and are in high demand. Employability skills are also heavily in demand, especially communications, work ethic and attendance.
Questions regarding the study can be directed to Ann Franz at 920-606-7691 or ann.franz@nwtc.edu. An Executive Summary of the study can be found at newmfgalliance.org or https://newmfgalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/final-2026-manufacturing-vitality-index-compressed.pdf
