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.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro will invest $400,000 into the Industrial Maintenance and Metalwork Training programs at Bucks County Community College (BCCC). The grant, which is part of the Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career (MTTC) program, will help support the needs of local manufacturing companies by training and placing 50 BCCC students for a career in manufacturing. In a recent quote, Gwen Ross, Director of Workforce Development Initiatives for the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), said, “The Shapiro Administration is focused on growing our economy and building a Commonwealth where all Pennsylvanians can follow their own path to success. Manufacturing has always been the backbone of Pennsylvania’s economy, and our investment in BCCC’s Industrial Maintenance and Metalwork Training programs will provide a classroom-to-career experience for students while meeting the needs of the region’s advanced manufacturers.”
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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown will invest $500,000 to provide Lorain County Community College in Ohio with innovative training and equipment to help prepare students for a range of advanced manufacturing careers. The investment will directly impact students enrolled in the Microelectronic Manufacturing degree track and in the Manufacturing Electronics and Rework Institute for Training laboratory. In a recent quote, Senator Brown said, “Ohio students and workers are going to lead in the industries of the future, whether they’re building chips at Intel in Licking County or building the infrastructure of tomorrow across our state. With this investment at Lorain County Community College, we are expanding opportunities for Ohioans to get the training they need to get a good paying job, where they can build a life here in Ohio and help further our state’s leadership in these crucial growing industries.”
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Missouri S&T, East Central College (ECC), and St. Charles Community College (SCC) will receive $9.1 million from the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development’s MoExcels Workforce Initiative. The funding will be used to support a new project, titled “Bridging the Manufacturing Critical Skills Gap,” which is designed to help the institutions modernize their manufacturing curriculum and incorporate new technologies and equipment to ensure the university’s training and education is well-aligned with the needs of Missouri manufacturers. In a recent quote, Dr. Richard Billo, director of Missouri University of Science and Technology’s Kummer Institute Center for Advanced Manufacturing, said, “Missouri desperately needs more engineering and technical students educated in emerging advanced manufacturing technology to address the shortage of employees in this industry. We are thrilled to work closely with our colleagues in the state’s community colleges to improve the employee pipeline and help our state’s manufacturers become — and stay — globally competitive with innovative products and processes.”
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Harbor Freight has awarded $1.5 million in cash prizes to 25 U.S. high school skilled trades teachers and their programs. The awards program, titled “Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence,” was created to recognize excellence among high school skilled trades teachers and increase understanding, support, and investment in skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. In a recent quote, Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, said, “We are thrilled to honor these 25 dedicated teachers who are making such an important difference in the lives of their students every day. They have earned this prize because they are highly knowledgeable about the skilled trades, have a deep belief in the potential of their students, and have built programs that prepare students for a multitude of opportunities after high school.”
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The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will invest $200,000 to support manufacturing-focused career programs offered by Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The money, which will be offered through the Manufacturing PA Training-to-Career (MTTC) grant program, will be used to increase student awareness of the skills, education, and training needed to be successful in advanced manufacturing careers. In a recent quote, Director of Workforce Development Initiatives Gwen Ross said, “The Shapiro Administration recognizes that career programs offered by organizations like Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania benefit both our workers and the manufacturing industry. Engaging students with advanced technology experiences will help to meet the needs of the industry while placing young Pennsylvanians on the path to rewarding careers in manufacturing.”
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