News and Analysis
The Ohio Manufacturing Competency Model: A Unified Vision for Workforce Excellence
March 15, 2024Led by the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) and supported by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation (OWT), and Ohio TechNet (OTN), the Ohio Manufacturing Competency Model has been co-developed with a group of manufacturers spanning various industries across all regions of Ohio. Together, these manufacturers identified sector-wide knowledge, skill, and ability needs for operators and technicians, highlighting hyper-relevant competencies distinctive to Ohio manufacturing.
As the OMA transitions from research to application, this model marks a pivotal step towards aligning education and training with industry standards.
Ohio manufacturers are invited to explore the model’s potential and familiarize themselves with the framework and use cases found on the Ohio Manufacturing Competency Model landing page. In the upcoming weeks, the OMA will provide comprehensive details on tools specifically designed for manufacturers, alongside guidance on how manufacturers can actively support and endorse this model. 3/13/2024
Enhancing Ohio’s Supply Chain Ecosystem
March 15, 2024The Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), part of the Ohio Department of Development, seeks input from Ohio manufacturers to both identify challenges and highlight opportunities within the state’s supply chain ecosystem.
Complete the survey here.
Contributors gain access to an exclusive virtual event discussing the survey outcomes, with expert analysis on supply chain trends, technological solutions, and broader industry insights. 3/14/2024
Learn to Leverage Women Talent
March 15, 2024On Mar. 21, 2024, from 10 to 11 a.m., join our free Workforce Services webinar focused on Recruiting and Retaining Women in the manufacturing sector. This webinar will provide insights into the status of women in Ohio manufacturing, alongside strategies for the engagement, onboarding, retention, and advancement of women within the industry.
Presenters include experts from Hard Hatted Women Ohio, who specialize in advancing women’s careers in high-demand fields, and the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau. Register to attend here. 3/14/2024
Enhancing Women’s Internships with the DeRocco Fellowship
March 15, 2024The DeRocco Fellows Program is designed for women undergraduates in manufacturing, providing professional development, mentorship, and industry networking. The fellowship was inspired by Emily Stover DeRocco, who played a key role in the development of the OMA’s Workforce Services.
Company support for intern participation in monthly activities and a workshop is required at no cost beyond intern wages. For companies interested in enriching their summer internships, recommend your female interns to apply by April 30, 2024, at DeRoccoFellows.org. 3/14/2024
Career Tech Equipment Grants Awarded
March 8, 2024Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted announced this week $67.7 million in Career Technical Education (CTE) Equipment Grants for 56 Ohio schools, expanding career tech education to 10,345 additional students. The OMA advocated for this funding, which was prioritized by the DeWine-Husted administration as part of the biennial budget.
This funding will help CTE schools purchase equipment that will enhance workforce readiness and skill development for high-demand industries such as manufacturing, creating a more skilled graduate pool for manufacturing leaders.
For the full list of recipients, click here. For more information click here. The next application period is in spring 2024, with dates to be announced. 3/6/2024
Lt. Gov. Husted Announces Ohio Career Navigator
March 8, 2024Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced this week the launch of the Ohio Career Navigator, a tool hosted on OhioMeandJobs.com to help Ohioans advance their education, learn in-demand skills, and advance their career.
The program is available for all Ohioans and will offer services such as finding and applying for job openings, skill and career interest assessments, resume builders, and interview coaching. 3/6/2024
Bridging the Gap: How Manufacturers Can Connect With the Next Generation of Workers
March 8, 2024A recent article featured in IndustryWeek highlights the opportunities that manufacturers have to reach students in cities like Chicago and Cleveland, where “…the need for jobs is so acute … there is a real opportunity here to get more employers involved at the high school level.” 3/6/2024
Podcast: Veterans in Manufacturing
March 8, 2024IndustryWeek also featured a recent podcast discussing how veterans can help close the skills gap in manufacturing. 3/6/2024
Younger Workers Feel More Detached in the Workplace Than Their Older Peers
March 1, 2024A recent story by Gallup highlighted the differences in workplace engagement among generations in the workforce and lays out a strategy for engaging them.
As a whole, workplace engagement has fallen among all age demographics following the COVID-19 pandemic, with Gen-Z and Millennials taking the largest hit. 2/29/2024
Manufacturing Is Losing the Race to Recruit, Advance Women
March 1, 2024In a recent Op-Ed in IndustryWeek, Manufacturing Alliance President Stephen Gold recently profiled how manufacturers can better advocate and push for women in manufacturing to reduce the talent gap.
Expanding and diversifying the manufacturing talent pool is a top priority of the OMA to help to close the skill gap in Ohio. Manufacturers interested in learning more about recruiting and retaining women can register to attend the OMA’s upcoming Workforce Services webinar where attendees will hear from subject-matter experts, learn best practices, and gain access to helpful research, resources, and tools. 2/29/2024