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Robots are now essential across U.S. manufacturing, from automotive plants to food processing lines. As more tasks shift from manual to automated systems, the need for skilled workers who can collaborate with technology keeps growing. 

Roles like robotics technicians, robotics specialists, robotics integrators, and robotics programmers are in high demand. AI has added another layer, requiring workers to understand decision-making systems and data, not just machinery. 

At the same time, labor shortages in welding, machining, and maintenance mean fewer hands to keep production running. Upskilling is how today’s workforce keeps pace with new jobs, better pay, and a stronger foothold in the future.

What Skills Are Most in Demand

Upskilling boosts production, shortens downtime, and cuts back on costly external support, while giving your top employees a reason to stay and grow.

Start with PLC programming. Whether it's ladder logic or function blocks, this skill helps frontline workers take ownership of day-to-day troubleshooting and basic edits. You don’t need every technician to be a programmer, but having even one or two team members with working knowledge reduces reliance on engineering for minor changes.

Familiarity with robotic platforms (like FANUC, Yaskawa, ABB, UR & ROS) also pays off. Machines don’t wait for robotic specialists. Giving your team the skills to handle teach pendants, recalibrate arms, or recover from faults helps keep production on track without outside intervention.

In many cases, technical gaps show up around electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic systems. Even basic upskilling in these areas allows your team to handle small fixes in-house. That flexibility can keep an entire line running through the second shift or weekends.

Preventative maintenance matters more in automated environments. Workers who know how to inspect key systems and identify early signs of failure can save thousands in emergency repairs and lost throughput.

Reading wiring schematics and performing cross-platform integration are more specialized, but upskilling select team members here gives you more control during equipment upgrades, retrofits, and system expansions.

Don’t overlook data fluency. It’s the key to unlocking the value of AI. Your machines generate performance data constantly: cycle times, error codes, and utilization rates. Upskilling your team to read that data and act on it, without waiting on an analyst, builds faster decision-making right into your operations.

Soft Skills That Matter

Technical training gets your team part of the way. But in high-tech environments, soft skills are what keep production running smoothly under pressure.

Upskilling shouldn’t stop at the hard skills. Workers need to be able to collaborate across departments, especially when the work spans maintenance, IT, and engineering. The ability to translate a technical problem into plain language, or interpret what’s needed from upstream or downstream teams, makes troubleshooting faster and more accurate.

The pace of automation doesn’t slow down for anyone. Machines get replaced, software gets updated, and workflows shift. Investing in people who can handle change without resistance is how you avoid production bottlenecks and morale issues.

Workers who can learn on the fly, take quick direction, and act confidently in uncertain situations provide real operational stability. These are skills that come from experience, mentorship, and support.

Communication across shifts, across sites, and between roles is often the quiet difference between plants that hum and plants that stall. Teams that can share status updates, flag issues early, and document solutions are easier to scale and easier to lead.

Soft skills aren’t fluff. They’re what makes technical training stick. Upskilling in this area helps retain talent, reduce conflict, and improve the reliability of every process on the floor.

Pathways to Upskill in Robotics

Building a skilled automation workforce doesn’t require hiring from scratch. In many cases, your best candidates for advanced technical roles are already on your payroll. The challenge is making upskilling accessible, relevant, and aligned with your operational needs.

ARM Institute-Endorsed Training Programs

ARM Institute Endorsement is a quality signal recognized across the manufacturing sector. ARM Institute-endorsed training programs with this distinction (whether college-based or non-traditional) have been reviewed by panels of both employers and educators. It’s a fast way for HR teams to identify training that’s built for real roles on the floor.

Formal Education

Partnering with local community colleges or universities opens the door to degree pathways in mechatronics, robotics engineering, and automation technology. These programs often include lab work like robotic welding booths, PLC simulators & full systems integration training. Some also use digital twins to mimic production environments safely and accurately.

In several states, workforce grants or training incentives can help offset tuition costs for adult learners. These are worth exploring if you’re supporting career progression for technicians, operators, or military veterans transitioning into automation roles.

Technical Training & Certifications

Not every employee needs a four-year degree. Short-term technical training focused on systems like FANUC, Yaskawa Universal Robots, or Siemens can make a big impact in just a few weeks. Targeted courses can turn a solid machine operator into a reliable robot tech or line lead.

Certifications like OSHA 10/30, IPC, or NIMS show up frequently in job requirements. Supporting employees in earning these credentials improves both safety and performance.

Online Learning Options

Online courses and vendor-led platforms offer flexibility for employees who can’t commit to full-time programs. Companies like Siemens host modular content in corporate onboarding programs. These can be integrated into internal training tracks or used for self-paced learning.

SME offers the Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RMF) Certification. This is a valuable credential for entry-level workers looking to gain core robotics knowledge. This online certification is well-suited for those transitioning into robotics or automation roles.

University-backed platforms like Coursera or edX cover both foundational and advanced topics, ideal for new learners or employees looking to reskill into engineering-adjacent roles.

Tools like RoboDK or MATLAB allow workers to practice robot programming offline, reducing risk and cost while they build proficiency.

On-the-Job Learning & Apprenticeships

Upskilling doesn’t need to take workers off the floor. Apprenticeship models combine paid, hands-on work with structured learning. Many major companies have seen success growing automation techs internally using this approach.

These programs often include classroom hours, skill assessments, and mentorship from experienced team members. They’re especially effective for retaining high-potential employees and moving them into hard-to-fill technical roles.

Mentorship & Peer Networks

Upskilling works better in a culture that supports it. Whether it’s formal mentoring, peer coaching, or informal Q&As, employees learn faster when they have access to experienced guides.

Encourage participation in online technical communities like Reddit, GitHub and Discord, or support internal communities of practice. Some companies even provide memberships to local maker spaces or technical associations as part of a training benefits package.

The goal isn’t just skill-building. It’s giving workers the confidence, context,  and peer support to keep growing long after the training ends.

How RoboticsCareer.org Helps Employers Build and Upskill Talent

RoboticsCareer.org simplifies how employers find relevant training, support employee development, and build stronger automation teams. It's purpose-built for manufacturing, with tools designed to connect skills to outcomes on the floor.

The platform features a searchable database of industry-vetted robotics training programs. HR teams and training managers can filter by skill set, credential, education level & region, making it easier to find programs that match your operational needs.

The SkillsMatcherSM tool is especially useful for internal upskilling. Input an employee's desired skills, and the platform recommends training that fills gaps and supports career growth. It’s a practical way to map out learning plans tied to real roles in automation.

ARM Institute Endorsed programs carry added credibility. These programs are reviewed by both employers and educators to meet industry-defined standards. That endorsement gives you confidence in the training’s relevance and rigor, whether investing in a current employee or partnering with a school.

There’s also a live job board that connects specific skills to open roles. For employers, this means visibility into where the talent is and how to compete for it. For workforce planning, it offers a clear view of the training-to-employment pipeline in real time.

A searchable talent database helps employers connect with individuals who have the skills and credentials you’re looking for. You can view candidate profiles, see their training history, and find matches based on your job openings or future hiring needs.

Encourage your HR or training team to create a free employer profile. From there, you can explore training options, identify skill gaps in your current workforce, and access tools that support both hiring and internal development. Upskilling starts with visibility, and RoboticsCareer.org puts everything in one place.

Real Benefits of Upskilling

Upskilling is how employers retain top performers, reduce turnover, and create a workforce that’s ready for the next shift in technology.

Employees who start in general labor or entry-level robotics technician roles often hit a ceiling fast. Structured training changes that. With the right upskilling programs, those same workers can move into roles like robotics specialist or robotics integrator, roles that are harder to fill, more technical, and more valuable to the business.

There's a retention benefit, too. Workers trained in automation aren’t doing repetitive, easily automated tasks. They’re monitoring system performance, fine-tuning robotic processes, and solving real problems. People tend to stay in roles where they feel capable, needed, and challenged.

Upskilled employees are also the ones configuring collaborative robots, working with AI-driven robotics systems, and keeping operations stable in smart manufacturing environments. Those experiences increase job satisfaction and reduce the need to bring in external contractors.

Investing in your workforce pays off in more ways than one. You reduce hiring pressure, improve production resilience, and build a team that’s prepared for the next upgrade, not left behind by it.

Why Now Is the Time to Upskill

Automation isn’t reducing the need for people. It’s raising the bar on what those people need to know. As systems become smarter, the work becomes more technical. Upskilling now gives your team the ability to stay relevant, fill critical roles, and reduce hiring strain.

RoboticsCareer.org helps employers connect their workforce to training that matters, including 16,500+  programs, ARM Institute Endorsed credentials & a SkillsMatcherSM tool that helps fill gaps in an employee’s skill set.

Create an employer profile to find programs that align with your needs and build a team equipped for today’s tech-driven production environment.

About The Author

Lisa Masciantonio 

Chief Workforce Officer

Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute 

Lisa Masciantonio is the Chief Workforce Officer for the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute. She joined the ARM Institute in May 2017 as the Director of Membership and Outreach.  She moved to the position of Chief Workforce Officer in 2019 and she is responsible for driving the Education & Workforce Development vision for ARM in conjunction with the ARM membership, the federal and state government partners, and other expert stakeholders. 

Lisa brings with her over 25 years of experience as a performance-driven leader with notable success in cultivating and executing business strategies and formulating long-term strategic client relationships.  She has proven success in developing business solutions, commercialization of products, technology transfer, and technological initiatives that have supported organizational growth, improved staff productivity, and increased value to many communities of practice. Critical to her success is the ability to increase awareness and drive thought leadership position by designing and executing innovative programs as well as developing and launching new, value-add offerings for ongoing competitiveness. Lisa received a Bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University and 2 Master’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon University. 

In 2021, Lisa was recognized as one of 20 world-wide Exceptional Women in Robotics and Automation by SME. In 2022, she was recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times as a Women of Influence and was also part of the inaugural Technical.ly Pittsburgh RealLIST Connectors list, which recognizes the top 100 influential leaders in Pittsburgh tech.