It’s no secret that the manufacturing industry has a workforce problem. Despite continued growth in the sector, attracting and retaining the right workers is a concern that keeps many executives up at night. A recent report predicts that the manufacturing industry will need as many as 3.8 million new workers by 2033, but 1.9 million of those jobs could go unfilled. To combat this issue, manufacturers, industry organizations, and government officials at all levels are investing in education and training opportunities across the country. Here are a few examples of how industrial stakeholders are coming together to inspire, educate, and train the next generation of manufacturing workers.
MakerspaceCT has received a $350,000 grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. MakerspaceCT’s Engineering Primer Program (EPP) is designed to train high school students for entry-level manufacturing and engineering jobs by offering hands-on experience with state-of-the-art technology and skills that manufacturing companies are seeking. In a recent quote, MakerspaceCT Education Director Cole Grosner said, "Our assessments show that our students gained knowledge and confidence in creating and fabricating their own project ideas using cutting-edge technology. This increase is directly applicable to skills needed in the manufacturing workplace that is desperately looking for talented new employees. This grant is essential to open up opportunities to elevate and empower high school students to explore and enter the workforce pipeline or advance technical education."
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SME has partnered with Cengage Group to introduce the “Ready to Hire” program, which provides manufacturers with pre-screened, pre-trained, pre-market talent. The new program is designed to handle sourcing, screening, training, and onboarding talent so employers can focus on building their team and boosting retention. In a recent quote, Jeannine Kunz, Chief Workforce Development Officer at SME, said, “It is our responsibility as one of the industry’s leading workforce organizations for over 90 years to create and invest in innovative programs like Ready to Hire, which will strengthen the manufacturing supply chain with technically skilled, productive individuals. Through our collaboration with Cengage, we are able to address not only the skills gap but also the gap in applicants, ultimately, positioning manufacturers and individuals to be better prepared for the future.”
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New Mexico State University has been awarded a $7 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The money, made possible through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, (EPSCoR) Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement (E-RISE RII), will be used to improve industrial workforce development and build partnerships across academic institutions and manufacturers. In a recent quote, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said, “This investment from NSF’s E-RISE RII program powers scientific progress through broad networks of researchers, institutions and organizations that will significantly enhance STEM research capacity in our EPSCoR jurisdictions. We are investing in a future where EPSCoR jurisdictions are even more competitive in the scientific enterprise, both nationally and internationally.”
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) has awarded Johnston Community College (JCC) a $150,000 ITAC planning grant. JCC plans to use the funds to improve its HVAC and advanced manufacturing job training programs and strengthen ties with local employers and manufacturers in the region. Additionally, JCC plans to partner with UNC Charlotte Industrial Assessment and Training Center (ITAC) and offer technical assistance to local manufacturers. In a recent quote, JCC President Vern Lindquist said, “This ITAC planning grant is a tremendous opportunity for Johnston Community College to bolster our workforce training programs and help more students pursue rewarding careers in manufacturing and HVAC.”
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UW-Milwaukee (UWM) College of Engineering & Applied Science will launch its new master’s of science degree program in Connected Systems Engineering in the fall. Coursework includes a range of manufacturing-related topics, including AI, cybersecurity, and digital supply chains. The interdisciplinary program will focus on engineering, business and data science with real-world applications in advanced manufacturing. In a recent quote, Michael Cook, Rockwell Automation’s director of global industry-academia and engagement, said, “We believe this interdisciplinary master’s program is a critical step to closing the current industry knowledge gap and preparing a pipeline of future industry leaders. We fully support this program.”
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