Workforce Management

52 and Climbing!

There are already 52 MFG DAY events planned in Ohio for 2018!

On MFG DAY manufacturers across North America open their doors to show the public what modern manufacturing looks like and inspire the next generation of skilled workers.

This year, the official date for Manufacturing Day is Friday, October 5, but any day can be MFG Day.

What requirements does your event need to meet in order to be an official MFG Day event?

1. Must consist of a tour of a manufacturing facility, office, innovation center, or other site; school event about manufacturing; manufacturing-related jobs fair; manufacturing-related career day event; or manufacturing product expo or similar event.
2. Must be open to students, parents and/or educators.

Everything you need to plan an event is here. 7/30/2018

OMA to Pursue Federal Apprenticeship Grant

Last week the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced $150 million in grants to support sector-based approaches to expand apprenticeships on a national scale in key industry sectors.

According to the DOL release, “This grant program aims to accelerate the expansion of apprenticeships to new industry sectors, and to increase apprenticeship opportunities for all Americans. …

“There are more than 6.6 million job openings in the U.S., many of which require advanced skills.

“The Department will award up to $150 million in H-1B funds to approximately 15 to 30 apprenticeship programs, with awards ranging from $1 million to $12 million. The grant size will depend on the size of the targeted industry sector and the proposed scale of the apprenticeship projects.”

OMA together with its workforce partners plans to pursue a portion of the dollars in support of Ohio manufacturing apprenticeships. 7/26/2018

Registration is Open for Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit 2018

There are specific actions manufacturers across Ohio are taking to improve workforce recruitment, retention and training, including creating regional industry sector partnerships.

Come to Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit 2018 on Thursday, November 1 to learn about and share the many exciting – and effective – activities underway!

At this statewide convening of manufacturers and their workforce partners, attendees will:

• Hear about workforce best practices and initiatives underway across Ohio,
• Learn about tools and resources that support regional workforce development,
• Share lessons learned, and
• Celebrate progress because this is hard work!

LIFT and MakerMinded Celebrate Top Schools in Ohio

Lightweight Innovations For Tomorrow, a Manufacturing USA institute, along with Tennessee Tech University iCube and the Ohio STEM Learning Network powered by Battelle, have announced the winning schools of the 2017-2018 MakerMinded competition.

MakerMinded was launched in Ohio in 2017 to impassion students about advanced manufacturing and provide them with transformational learning experiences and 21^st century skills to secure their path to in-demand careers.

The MakerMinded digital platform provides access to a diverse range of national and local STEM and advanced manufacturing programs, including manufacturing facility tours, gaming activities, project-based learning, and competitions.

The following four schools in Ohio are being recognized for excellence in advanced manufacturing and STEM learning through their participation in MakerMinded:

• Dayton Regional STEM School – Dayton
• Alliance Middle School – Alliance
• Graham Middle School – St. Paris
• Woodward Park Middle School – Columbus

To learn more about how to support your local schools in MakerMinded activities, reach out to Battelle’s Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544. 7/11/2018

Did You Miss Our Apprenticeship Webinar?

No worries. All OMA webinars are recorded and stored in our video library.

Despite the national attention, many are still asking: What exactly is registered apprenticeship and how can it benefit manufacturers? In this webinar, you’ll hear from Ohio’s State Apprenticeship Administrator, as well as two group model apprenticeship sponsors about how registered apprenticeships have been successfully implemented across the state. 7/5/2018

Unions Blast Workforce Development Bill

This week unions lined up to take shots at a bill that would increase participation in and exposure to manufacturing and construction jobs. House Bill 551 would allow 16- and 17-year olds to work in certain manufacturing or construction jobs as long as safety and training are provided.

Manufacturers have long wanted to expose high school students to manufacturing careers in order for the students to understand what careers in manufacturing exist. However unions, mostly aligned with the construction trades, testified that the bill did not provide enough for the construction industry.

The House indicated it would work on the bill over the summer recess. 6/28/2018

OMA Testifies in Support of Bill to Help Students Gain Manufacturing Exposure

This week OMA’s Rob Brundrett, Director, Public Policy Services, testified in support of HB 551 (Perales-R-Beavercreek, Romanchuk-R-Mansfield) before the House Economic Development, Commerce and Labor Committee. The bill would relax some of the obstacles for 16- and 17-year olds, who are not in a specific school program, to gain access to manufacturing jobs.

Brundrett testified: “An obstacle manufacturing has in developing workforce is getting middle and high school students exposure to modern manufacturing. … House Bill 551 can support manufacturers by permitting 16- and 17-year olds to work in manufacturing, especially during the summer months when school is out of session. Currently students must be affiliated with some specific school program in order to work at a manufacturing facility if they are under the age of 18.

” … The bill has the opportunity to touch a new crop of students who never knew they could be interested in manufacturing. This exposure at a younger age is beneficial in developing the next generation of makers.” 6/20/2018

Education Agency Merger Bill Stalls Out

Legislation to merge state education agencies is not expected to advance. House Bill 512 would merge the Department of Higher Education with the Department of Education. The bill would also combine the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation into the new agency.

The OMA supports the bill as a first step to improve accountability and better prepare our workforce. Educator groups representing teachers, administrators and school boards have panned the bill.

The lawmaker chairing the bill’s assigned committee, Rep. Bill Blessing (R–Cincinnati), told reporters the House would discontinue hearings citing “too much opposition to move forward with it.” 6/21/2018

Top Ohio Occupations Don’t Pay Enough to Afford Modest Housing

Only two of the top 10 occupations in Ohio actually pay their employees enough to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, according to a report just published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

The ten occupations are: Food Preparation ($9.40/hr.), Retail Salespersons ($10.41/hr.), Registered Nurses ($30.59/hr.), Cashiers ($9.33/hr.), Laborers/Freight Movers ($12.66/hr.), Waiters/Waitresses ($9.45/hr.), Office Clerks ($14.42/hr.), Customer Service Reps.($15.34/hr.), Janitors/Cleaners ($11.59/hr.), and Stock Clerks ($11.65/hr.). Only nurses and customer service reps. clear the rent affordability hurdle ($15.25 an hour). 6/14/2018

Showcase Your Organization as a Manufacturing Workforce Champion

The single most significant issue facing Ohio’s manufacturers is recruiting and developing an appropriately skilled workforce – for now and for the future.

That’s why again this fall, The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association is organizing Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit 2018, a statewide convening of Ohio manufacturers and their workforce partners on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The purpose of the event is to provide resources, tools and support to manufacturers and their regional workforce partners/suppliers to improve the skills and supply of workers in Ohio’s manufacturing industry.

The 2018 Summit is expected to attract 500 or more participants. We are inviting manufacturers across the state and their critical workforce suppliers from Ohio’s agencies, educational institutions and economic development organizations to participate in this day of learning and sharing.

Sponsor opportunities at many levels are now available. Contact OMA’s Dan Noreen. 6/7/2018