Last week, something remarkable happened. Fifty-five high school juniors and seniors walked through our doors for mock interviews with St. Louis CAPS (STL CAPS), headquartered at Conflux Co-Learning, and they completely shattered the “nobody wants to work anymore” narrative that echoes through our manufacturing community.

I hear daily from industry leaders. The complaints are constant: “Kids today don’t want to work.” “Manufacturing isn’t appealing to young people.” “The work ethic just isn’t there.”

Then I met them.

Ambition Has Many Faces

Two students particularly stood out. The first, a young woman who knew exactly where she was heading. Environmental engineering. She rattled off her dream companies like a seasoned professional discussing their five-year plan. Her preparation was meticulous, her goals laser-focused.

The second? A young man who freely admitted he had no idea what specific career he wanted. But here’s what struck me: he wasn’t lost. He was strategically exploring. “I want to own my own business someday,” he explained. “Right now, I’m meeting as many people as possible, hearing their stories, learning what paths exist.” That’s not indecision,  that’s smart market research.

These High Schoolers Are Busier Than Most Adults

Here’s what the critics miss: these students juggle schedules that would exhaust most adults. They attend regular high school classes in the morning or afternoon, then spend 2.5 hours daily in professional environments through STL CAPS, complete real-world projects for actual companies, and still manage extracurriculars, part-time jobs, and family responsibilities.

One student asked me, “What’s the biggest mistake you see people make early in their careers?” That’s not a question from someone avoiding work – that’s strategic thinking from someone already building their professional foundation.

What Manufacturing Leaders Are Missing

After interviewing several students and hearing about the others from fellow interviewers, one thing became crystal clear: talent isn’t coming to you. You need to meet them where they are.

These students are actively exploring careers in healthcare, business, engineering, computer science, and entrepreneurship. Many had heard of companies like Burns & McDonnell, McCarthy, Purina, and Clayco, but few knew about the smaller manufacturing and engineering firms in St. Louis that could offer incredible opportunities.

The skills gap isn’t just technical, it’s awareness. These students don’t know what they don’t know about manufacturing or the career opportunities it offers.

A Call to Action for St. Louis Manufacturing

To my fellow manufacturing and industrial leaders: stop waiting for talent to find you. These students are hungry for opportunity, but they need to know you exist. They need to see themselves in your industry.

Here’s what you can do today:

1. Volunteer for STL CAPS mock interviews. Two hours of your time can change a student’s entire career trajectory.
2. Offer to host a site visit or job shadow. Even a half-day experience can open eyes to possibilities.
3. Be open to developing Client Projects. Collaborate with St. Louis CAPS instructors to take the “to do” list items that never are crossed-off and offer them to St. Louis CAPS associates to tackle. 

Here’s who to contact when you want to be part of the solution:

• Tim Luecke, Director – St. Louis CAPS | tluecke@stlcaps.net
  Headquarters: Conflux Co-Learning
  8221 Minnesota Ave.
  St. Louis, MO 63111

The next generation isn’t lazy or disinterested. They’re strategic, ambitious, and looking for meaning in their work. They’re balancing more than we did at their age and approaching careers with an entrepreneurial mindset we should celebrate, not criticize.

The question isn’t whether young people want to work. It’s whether we’re ready to show them the incredible opportunities waiting in St. Louis manufacturing.

The future walked through Conflux’s doors last week. And honestly? It looks pretty bright.