(PRESS RELEASE) TROY, MI — TJS (The Jewelry Symposium), the jewelry industry’s annual international event dedicated specifically to the advancement of jewelry manufacturing technology, announced new plans to host a roundtable discussion entitled “Workforce at Risk” where representatives from all areas of the jewelry business are invited to join a critical discussion about the skilled labor shortage and the attrition of skillsets occurring as talented craftsman retire or leave the industry. The roundtable will take place from 4:30 – 6:00 pm on Saturday, May 17, 2025 (immediately before the TJS welcome dinner) at the Dennison room inside the Detroit Marriott Troy.
“The TJS board recognizes trending difficulties in the hiring and retention of skilled labor in our industry, from bench jewelers to retail staff to all types of manufacturing technicians,” says Linus Drogs, Chairman of the Board at TJS. “We believe that the diverse gathering of industry professionals at TJS will provide a wonderful opportunity for analyzing, identifying, and clearly defining the challenges. We also hope to inspire brainstorming regarding how our industry might work together to address these issues.”
“One of the most difficult things I face, as a designer jewelry brand who makes its own pieces, is finding skilled workers,” says Chris Ploof, Founder of Chris Ploof Designs. “We’ve even modified our work week to 4 days to keep our people happy and loyal, as well as offered other perks like free EV charging and extra paid time off. I am hopeful that this critical round table discussion at TJS will give me other ideas on how to find and retain talented and reliable employees.”
“In a retail jewelry business, finding skilled bench jewelers and watch technicians is a pressing challenge for many of us,” says Ann Cahoon, Director of Manufacturing and Repair for Long’s Jewelers in Massachusetts. “Also, CAD designers, gemologists, and repair intake specialists can be difficult to find. We need to think collectively and creatively, and take a long view as we cultivate talent, especially before a huge source of our collective knowledge leaves the industry when they retire. A potential solution lies in developing, rather than hiring, the right team members. Broader conversations about training and education will be crucial for our shared success as an industry.”
Jewelry professionals wishing to join the roundtable discussion should RSVP by April 15th to jessa@thejewelrysymposium.com.
For more information on the roundtable, click here.
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For more information or event details regarding TJS, visit www.thejewelrysymposium.com, or email Jessa Cast at jessa@thejewelrysymposium.com.
