It’s an exciting time for manufacturing in New York state, says Randy Wolken, president of MACNY
By Stefan Yablonski
Manufacturing is poised for significant growth in New York state, according to Randy Wolken, president of MACNY, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York, which serves a 20-county region in Upstate New York.
The Empire State has the ability to be the overall most affordable place to manufacture anywhere in the nation, he said.
“There is so much going on. Companies are adding significant number of workers — there is a lot of growth in different sectors; metals, food processing and others — they are all growing, adding and modernizing. We are seeing it across the spectrum and I think that is really positive,” he said.
“I think there is a lot going on in regard to opportunities. We recently celebrated the Micron opening [on Jan. 16]. That is a big and meaningful moment for all of Central New York and beyond. Albany and Washington both have been instrumental in securing Micron and others. We are so excited about their continued engagement.”
A solid 2026
Wolken said he is expecting a very solid 2026 — including some major investments and continuing.
“I think the future is very bright for New York state manufacturing. I’ve never seen so much investment, so much opportunity. I’ve been doing this work for 24 years,” he added. “We are very optimistic about the future of manufacturing. It’s going to be a strong year for investment and growth — in fact it may be stronger.”
According to Wolken, advanced manufacturing is no longer defined only by machines, automation or technology. It’s determined by the people who can work alongside intelligent systems, adapt continuously and grow as production environments evolve. The factories of today and tomorrow are faster, more intelligent and more connected.
The local workforce is among the most educated due to an extensive and outstanding elementary through graduate school education system, he added.
“We are a leader for the country. There are a lot of companies that are very interested in being here. It’s really the place to make things. I think we will see a significant growth in manufacturing jobs over the next three to five years,” he said. “You’ll see significant investment across Upstate. We have significant projects in Rochester and Buffalo and Albany and Utica. I think we are also going to continue to see growth and opportunity. We’re seeing a lot of hot industries wanting to be in New York. We are focused on having enough energy for all of this.”
The governor just did her State of the State address, he added.
“MACNY and our member companies look forward to collaborating with the governor and her administration on a Master Plan for Responsible Advanced Nuclear Development as the state works toward meeting its decarbonization goals. We also are encouraged by the governor’s commitment to support an application by Constellation Energy for the possibility of bringing a smaller modular reactor online. Day after day, we hear from members that are concerned about the future of affordable, sustainable, and reliable energy. New nuclear is a clean energy source that would serve as a critical part of the state’s solution,” he said in a previous post.”
He applauds Gov. Hochul’s continued support of workforce development training programs in high-demand occupations with a focus on underrepresented populations throughout New York.
“With apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, such as MACNY’s Real Life Rosies program, in constant high demand, we were pleased to hear the governor pledge to increase funding for these critical programs to help incumbent and entry-level workers advance their careers in the manufacturing industry. There’s no doubt that investment in workforce complements all the capital investments and all the other investments,” he said. “We are seeing an uptick in apprenticeship work.
“We have apprentices who complete their training at 19 and we’ve had one who’s completed their training at 71. I love the fact that it is not just young people; it’s people of all ages that want these jobs.”
Apprenticeships, earn-and-learn models and partnerships with community colleges and training providers are increasingly essential tools for building talent pipelines, he added.
Advanced manufacturing desperately needs a more inclusive workforce, according to Wolken. As physical demands decrease and digital tools become more accessible, advanced manufacturing roles open to a broader range of workers.
All the trade-related highly skilled jobs are becoming more in demand and they are more secure.
“It really has become an advanced technology world in which we live in. Young people and people of all ages should be thinking about these clean high-tech spaces that they can work in,” he said.
Tasks that were once manual, repetitive or physically demanding are increasingly handled by automation, robotics and AI.
AI is actually taking over; it’s really enhancing the technology in our companies, according to Wolken.
“It’s elevated the need for continued skillset investment. It will continue,” he said. “It’s been an ongoing thing in manufacturing for decades now. We expect to see that continue. Every job will be changing.
“I remind people that AI has actually been in manufacturing for a long time now — we just called it automation. It has become even more focused. Today’s manufacturing is all technology driven.”
Ultimately success depends on how well organizations develop, support and retain human talent, he added.
“There has been a shift to local supply chains. We are seeing a shift at all levels; it’s not just the major companies of the world. They are all ordering supplies from around them. That is true of the other industries as well. They’d rather have local supply chains — if not locally, at least in the US,” he said. “In 2026, advanced manufacturing is creating roles that are safer, more engaging and more intellectually rewarding — but only when organizations invest deliberately in people.”
It’s “an upstate phenomenon. Obviously Central New York is a leader — it will strengthen its position in 2026 and beyond. The projection for the next five years is strong,” he said.
