Kellanova’s pilot training program addresses labor gap

BACK TO ALL NEWS

Kellanova’s pilot training program addresses labor gap

5 Dec 2025

Maddie Lambert

Maddie Lambert is a copywriter and editor from Joplin, MO. She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English – literary studies. When she’s not poring over the magazine or lost in the pages of a new novel, you can find Maddie exploring her local bookstores, spending time with her husband, or sharing her latest literary discoveries with fellow book enthusiasts.

CHICAGO — Manufacturers nationwide are facing a shortage of skilled labor, and with more than 25% of US manufacturing employees being older than 55, that shortage will continue in the coming years. This gap is especially worse for highly skilled roles such as electricians and mechanics.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for electricians is projected to grow 6% annually through 2032, twice the rate of other occupations. Additionally, electricians are retiring faster than new hires can train and join the workforce, a process that can take between three and four years.

Kellanova’s Jackson, TN, plant — the only US facility that makes Pringles — covers 50 acres and requires 65 trained electricians to maintain and repair the equipment. In partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), the CPG company is piloting a training program that will serve as a pipeline for the labor pool and a fast-track to higher-skilled, higher-paid jobs for local students as electricians and Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) technicians.

“The technology on our plant floor is evolving, and as it becomes more complex, the role of our E&I technicians becomes even more important,” said Bryan Sparks, Jackson plant director. “By bringing this training in-house, we invest in our people, helping them build capabilities and continue to learn as our industry evolves while they benefit from the opportunity to earn promotions more quickly and grow their careers, starting day one.”

Since the partnership started in 2021, Kellanova has hired 50 employees into its E&I training program, which empowers current employees and Jackson residents looking to enter manufacturing to combine skills development with on-the-job experience, fast-tracking their careers.

“This partnership with Kellanova is beneficial for our students, and as educators, we want to make sure our students learn skills that they can put to work immediately,” said Dr. Jacquene Rainey, TCAT president. “Students get invaluable exposure to the careers they can build here in Jackson, connect with others in their industry, and know that they’ll graduate job-ready.”

Advertisement

BACK TO ALL NEWS