Workforce

Ohio’s manufacturing future depends on a workforce ready to meet the demands of evolving industries, and a new video is telling that story. The Ohio Manufacturing Competency Model, created with direct input from manufacturers and education partners, is a shared language for building tomorrow’s workforce today.

In the video, state leaders and manufacturers highlight the model’s power to align training with real-world job needs, streamline talent development and strengthen Ohio’s competitive edge.

Watch the full video and explore how the model can support your workforce goals. 12/16/2025

During a recent Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) webinar, JobsOhio unveiled a first-of-its-kind research initiative based on surveys of thousands of Ohio students, parents, and workers. The findings shed light on when and how different populations make career decisions, offering valuable insight into strengthening the state’s technician talent pipeline.

Presenters highlighted key decision points that influence career choices and emphasized the importance of data-driven messaging that reflects real opportunities in modern manufacturing. The discussion reinforced the need for early, intentional engagement and outreach strategies that resonate with both students and parents, helping employers better connect jobseekers to in-demand roles.

The webinar wrapped with an update from the OMA on 2026 initiatives aligned to the Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint, connecting JobsOhio’s research to future workforce strategies. Watch the webinar recording to learn more about the insights and next steps shaping Ohio’s manufacturing talent pipeline. 12/16/2025

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) joined leaders from JobsOhio, Tolles Career & Technical Center, Accenture and the Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership for a high-energy panel at this year’s ED 411 event in Columbus. The session, titled “The Talent Imperative: Matching Skills to Market Needs,” showcased data-driven strategies for developing Ohio’s next generation of operators and technicians and highlighted the momentum behind the Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint.

Hosted by One Columbus, ED 411 brought together more than 700 economic developers, business and community leaders, and elected officials — united in shaping a bold, future-focused vision for the 11-county Columbus region. 12/10/2025

The OMA and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) will launch two new microcredentials for the semiconductor industry in 2026. Co-developed with Intel, Tosoh, and Micron, the credentials target two critically demanded positions: equipment technicians and facility technicians. Together, these industry leaders identified the critical knowledge, skills and abilities in these two areas and worked with education providers to develop standards, performance measures, and knowledge checks to design the two credentials.

In the final step of the development process, industry subject matter experts, faculty and students in semiconductor-related programs will pilot the credentials for finalization and deployment to the field for the 2026-27 school year. The credentials will be available for instruction in K-12 and postsecondary programs to validate the critical skills needed in this industry sector. 12/10/2025

The Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership (COMP) was recently featured on a panel showcasing collaborative approaches to cultivating manufacturing talent in Ohio. The 2025 STEM Innovation Forum — titled “Finding Common Ground: Embracing a Shared Vision to Ensure Continued Global STEM Leadership” — was held on November 17–18 at Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus.

At the forum, which brought together more than 200 professionals from industry, education, nonprofit and government sectors to advance STEM education and career-pathway strategies, COMP Executive Director Kyle Fulton joined partners from Battelle and COSI to discuss the ​Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint and initiatives to grow manufacturing-sector career awareness and interest in the K–12 space, including the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Manufacturing Career Ambassador program. 12/3/2025

Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP), an Ohio Manufacturers’ Association-endorsed ISP, recently released a video showcasing its fifth welding cohort delivered with Terra State Community College. The story highlights the WorkAdvance model in action — combining accelerated training, strong career coaching and close collaboration with partners.

Participants receive all the materials and support needed to succeed, and the lecture-plus-lab format gives learners both hands-on practice and essential theory. The cohort achieved a major milestone with 100% certification pass rates.

Employer partner Standard Technologies also shares how the program provides a strong on-ramp for new welders and prepares graduates to excel in their careers. The video underscores how WorkAdvance continues to strengthen Ohio’s manufacturing workforce through aligned training and supportive pathways. 12/3/2025

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association recently participated in the Dayton Regional STEM School’s 11th Grade Student Roundtable Discussion. Joined by the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association, local manufacturers and community partners, the event is part of the Ohio STEM Learning Network’s (OSLN) Statewide Design Challenge that connects more than 150 teachers and 40,000 students to tackle real-world problems through hands-on, creative problem solving.

The roundtable discussion provided students the opportunity to present their early project ideas, ask questions and gain insight from the profession on how innovation, problem-solving and collaboration work in the real-world.

There is still time to volunteer in your region as the challenge runs through January 2026! With a total time commitment of one to three hours, volunteer opportunities include answering online student questions through “Industry Insights” or connecting with teachers and students (virtually or in person) as a “PowerUp Partner.” If you are interested in volunteering, learn more and sign up with OSLN. 11/19/2025

During the recent Workforce Summit, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) unveiled new Making Ohio tools designed to strengthen early manufacturing career awareness. These hands-on, team-based activities, tailored for elementary through high school students, give manufacturers and educators practical resources to use once interest in manufacturing has been sparked.

The tools introduce key concepts found on today’s shop floors. In the “Marshmallow Tower” activity, students explore teamwork, problem-solving, and design principles as they learn how materials can become stronger through thoughtful engineering. The “Blueprints and Measurements” exercise reinforces the importance of accuracy and communication when interpreting instructions, a critical skill for manufacturing environments.

These resources help students understand real-world challenges and show how creativity, precision, and collaboration play a role in modern manufacturing careers. All Making Ohio tools can be accessed online. 11/19/2025

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) has released its 2025 Good Jobs Challenge Impact Report, highlighting how manufacturers and partners have transformed Ohio’s workforce system through the statewide expansion of the WorkAdvance model — connecting jobseekers to training, support, and quality manufacturing careers.

With more than 6,000 individuals recruited and 3,500 placed into quality jobs, OMA and its partners have already surpassed early benchmarks and are on track to exceed all grant goals by June 2026. More than 800 employers have engaged in this effort, strengthening local pipelines and fueling long-term competitiveness across Ohio’s manufacturing sector.

Read the full 2025 Good Jobs Challenge Impact Report to see how manufacturers and Industry Sector Partnerships are driving measurable, statewide impact. 11/12/2025

More than 100 photos from the 2025 Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit are now available for members to view and download. The gallery captures the day’s biggest moments, from the keynote and packed breakouts to the employer and educator collaborations that drove the discussion on Ohio’s manufacturing talent pipeline. The collection offers an easy way to revisit the energy in the room and highlight your organization’s participation.

Members are encouraged to use the images across social media, internal newsletters, presentations and workforce outreach materials. The photos provide ready-made content to showcase your commitment to addressing Ohio’s workforce needs and to amplify the value of the summit within your organization and community.

Click here to explore the full collection and see the conversations and connections that continue to power Ohio’s manufacturing workforce strategy. 11/13/2025

At this year’s Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit, the breakout session Amplifying Outreach spotlighted new ways manufacturers are connecting with the next generation of talent.

John Sherwood of JobsOhio unveiled groundbreaking market research identifying the motivators that inspire jobseekers to act — offering manufacturers new insights to craft messaging that resonates. Mark Lamoncha of Humtown shared his company’s Industrial Athlete approach, reframing manufacturing as a performance-driven career. Steve Staub of Staub Manufacturing Solutions discussed how a team-decision-making approach and hiring for attitude and potential — not just experience — have strengthened his company’s culture and retention. And Marla Akridge of TVISP introduced the “Solve for One” model, emphasizing personalized, ecosystem-based solutions to workforce engagement.

Access session resources and slides in the OhioMFG App and dive into more insights and key moments from the summit. 11/12/2025

The U.S. manufacturing sector has 409,000 unfilled jobs out of 12.7 million positions. Ben Brugler, CEO and president of Akhia, an Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Connections Partner, says Gen Z could be a key solution. Nearly half of this generation is interested in manufacturing, and that rises to 62% when they understand modern, automated and connected plants. Brugler notes that Gen Z values skill development, career growth and structured workdays, not just pay. To attract them, he advises manufacturers to reshape perceptions by showing and telling the story of today’s innovative factories. This approach allows companies to tap their greatest asset and prepare for the workforce of the future. 11/10/2025

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) unveiled a new video at its annual Workforce Summit highlighting the Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint, the state’s coordinated plan to fill 35,000 manufacturing jobs each year. The video showcases Ohio’s leadership in fast-growing sectors such as semiconductors, advanced automotive, aerospace, and biopharmaceuticals, while emphasizing the need to scale a skilled, future-ready workforce.

Produced through the Ohio Manufacturing Talent Partnership, the video outlines the blueprint’s five pillars: connecting systems, growing career awareness, broadening the talent pool, aligning education and training, and expanding earn-and-learn models.

“Ohio has the momentum, the investment and the infrastructure,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “Now it’s about people, connecting talent to opportunity and keeping Ohio at the forefront of manufacturing.” 11/6/2025

Plenary and keynote sessions at the annual Workforce Summit focused on preparing industry for an evolving workforce landscape and strengthening statewide alignment. AI strategist, Todd McLees, opened with “Building AI Agility — Competing and Thriving in the New Economy,” offering practical guidance on using AI to reduce waste, accelerate decision-making, improve safety, and build organizational agility — the real advantage in an AI-driven era. His message emphasized the importance of ongoing learning and team empowerment.

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel followed with an energizing keynote underscoring Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint, the unified strategy guiding collaboration among manufacturers, educators, and workforce partners to grow talent pipelines and expand opportunity. His remarks highlighted the continued need for coordinated action statewide.

The afternoon plenary, “Tackling the Technician Shortage — A Bold, Manufacturer-Led Strategy for Ohio,” showcased manufacturers directly involved in designing a scalable earn-and-learn technician model with the OMA, Accenture and the Ohio Manufacturing Talent Partnership to address statewide demand and strengthen workforce competitiveness.

Opt in to the Workforce Community, and stay engaged as these strategies continue to scale — and help shape the future of Ohio’s manufacturing workforce. 11/6/2025

Breakout sessions at the eighth annual Workforce Summit equipped educators, workforce partners and manufacturers with new tools to support student engagement and talent development. Attendees learned more about the new MakingOhio Hands-on Group Activities, designed to spark interest in manufacturing through collaborative, tactile learning. Updates to the Competency Model Curriculum Assessment also offer clearer alignment between instruction and the industry knowledge, skills, and abilities manufacturers need.

Speakers highlighted strategies to strengthen employer engagement, build awareness among young learners and support populations facing barriers to employment. These sessions emphasized replicable models that can be applied regionally to improve career awareness and accelerate entry into in-demand pathways.

As these tools continue to scale statewide, manufacturers interested in exploring workforce models, such as WorkAdvance, or expanding outreach efforts are encouraged to engage with their local ISP to get involved. 11/6/2025

In a recent blog post titled “Only 9% of You Are Ready for the Silver Tsunami,” Ben Brugler, president and CEO of Akhia, issued a call to action for manufacturing leaders. Brugler noted that with more than 11,000 baby boomers retiring every day, only about 9% of manufacturers are equipped to bring in and keep the next generation of talent. He urged manufacturers to focus on people over products, share authentic workforce stories, open doors to new talent and position manufacturing as a problem-solving profession rather than just a job.

His message echoes the goals of the Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint, which emphasizes industry-led collaboration to grow and sustain the state’s manufacturing talent pool.

Click here to read the full open letter and Connections Partner Akhia’s call to action. 11/3/2025

Funded by a $2 million grant awarded through the Ohio Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program, Wayne High School recently announced the completion of construction on a new Robotics, Automation and Manufacturing Lab.

In partnership with Miami Valley Career Technology Center, nearly 800 students are enrolled in career technical courses at Wayne High School. The new space and additional course offerings in robotics and 3D printing and design will ensure that students have access to hands-on training in manufacturing processes and automation technologies that prepare them for high-demand careers in manufacturing. 10/29/2025

Ohio manufacturers are facing a growing need for skilled technicians. To meet this challenge, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA), in partnership with Accenture, is developing a one-year, earn-and-learn program designed by manufacturers to prepare entry-level technicians for advanced manufacturing careers.

Built around the Ohio Manufacturing Competency Model, the program is being shaped through workshops with more than 20 manufacturers —including Honda, Worthington Steel, Talan Products and GMi Companies — who are defining the core knowledge and skills needed statewide. The initiative will blend classroom learning with paid, on-the-job training, providing industry credentials that link to college credit. The project is accelerated by longstanding efforts defined by the Ohio Manufacturing Talent Partnership to bridge the talent gap, and aligns funding and wraparound service models to set a long-term governance and operations structure for statewide scalability.

Launching the first pilot in 2026, this collaborative effort will create a scalable, statewide solution to close Ohio’s manufacturing talent gap and strengthen its industrial competitiveness. 10/20/2025

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is partnering with the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN) and DriveOhio on the #STEMmovesOhio Design Challenge, a statewide initiative engaging K–12 students in solving real-world problems. This year’s challenge focuses on Ohio’s electric transportation future and the manufacturing industries that power it.

OMA is seeking manufacturers to volunteer and share their expertise with students and educators. Volunteers do not need to be technical experts in electric transportation—manufacturers from all sectors are encouraged to participate. Opportunities include answering student questions online through the Industry Insights option or connecting directly with classrooms as PowerUp Partners through virtual or in-person coaching, guest speaking or hosting site tours.

Most volunteer opportunities require just one to three hours between October 2025 and January 2026. This is a meaningful way to spark student interest in manufacturing careers and help shape Ohio’s next generation of innovators. Visit the OSLN website to learn more and sign up. 10/14/2025

The OMA, in partnership with the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents, met with Ohio Technical Centers this week to kick off a statewide effort to assess the alignment of short-term manufacturing training programs to manufacturers’ needs using the OMA Competency Model curriculum assessment tool. Ohio Technical Centers train manufacturing operators and technicians in short-term, one-year-or-less technical programs at 49 locations across the state.

This effort supports one of the key pillars of Ohio’s recently announced Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint to better align and scale education and training programs in order to optimize programming, drive completions and build stackable, seamless postsecondary pathways for adult learners. 10/8/2025