News and Analysis
Support Ohio’s Only Manufacturing Workforce Summit
June 25, 2021OMA staff is currently putting together the agenda for the fifth annual Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit, set for Oct. 27-28. This year’s summit, which will be conducted virtually, will consist of two half-day live sessions. Stay tuned for more details.
In the meantime, your business can be spotlighted as a supporter of this one-of-a-kind event, which addresses manufacturers’ most pressing issue — attracting, training, and retaining employees. Learn more here. To secure your preferred sponsor package for this well-received event, email Dan Noreen or call (614) 348-1225. 6/23/2021
Re-Evaluating Your Workforce Strategies After COVID-19
June 25, 2021Last week, OMA Connections Partner MCM presented a webinar to help manufacturers re-evaluate their workforce strategies as the pandemic subsides. HR strategist Susan Pittman analyzed the “war for talent” and shared strategies that employers should consider to get the best possible outcome in a tight labor market. Check out the recorded webinar and presentation slides. 6/21/2021
Timmons Talks ‘Creators Wanted’
June 25, 2021Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), recently spoke with Yahoo Finance about manufacturing’s labor shortage and NAM’s Creators Wanted program, which, among other things, provides Manufacturing Day resources.
Timmons told the network the national average wage for manufacturing is about $82,000. The host responded: “In high schools across the country, isn’t this the message that should be delivered? You had me at $82,000 a year, which is a lot more than base salary for journalists in New York City at union scale.” 6/21/2021
Mike Rowe: Student Loan Crisis, Skills Gap Tied to Loss of Shop Classes
June 25, 2021Reality TV actor and pitchman Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” fame told Fox Business Network this week that the death of shop class in America’s high schools has fueled the nation’s $1.6 trillion student loan debt and worsening skills gap. “We have unintentionally maligned an entire section of our workforce by promoting one form of education at the expense of all the other forms,” Rowe said.
Regarding the education system’s continued messaging that kids need four-year degrees, he said: “We’re lending money we don’t have to kids who will never be able to pay it back, to train them for jobs that don’t exist anymore. That’s nuts.” 6/23/2021
Ohio Publication Examines ‘New Workforce Paradigm’
June 18, 2021In an article examining the “new workforce paradigm,” Columbus Business First (subscription) reports that OMA-member Worthington Industries is using some creative approaches to attract talent in a very tight labor market. These tactics include:
- raising starting wages to $16 per hour for workers with no experience;
- providing sign-on and retention bonuses at the 90-day and one-year marks; and
- increasing flexibility by allowing people to work part-time and with creative scheduling.
The article quotes Columbus State Community College administrator Cheryl Hay who said employers are leaning into earn-and-learn programs, in which companies pay workers while they’re learning a skill or earning credentials. OMA members that haven’t already established an earn-and-learn program should contact their regional industry sector partnership for assistance or ideas. 6/14/2021
Sen. Brown Announces 2021 Manufacturing Camps Schedule
June 18, 2021U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is continuing his summer tradition of organizing manufacturing camps for kids. The camps give young Ohioans a glimpse of manufacturing’s rewarding and exciting careers. Nine counties are hosting camps this summer in conjunction with Brown’s office. (See the camp schedule.) The senator said he hopes the program will return to more counties next year. 6/17/2021
A Manufacturing Boot Camp for Educators
June 18, 2021In Sandusky County, economic development officials recently conducted their annual Sandusky County Teacher Manufacturing Boot Camp. The boot camp gives educators firsthand manufacturing experience, allowing them to tour multiple manufacturing facilities and present how the information they have learned will be used in their curriculum.
The Fremont News Messenger reports that 24 educators took part in this year’s boot camp. Participating manufacturers included OMA-member Whirlpool Corporation’s Clyde facility. 6/16/2021
TechCred Has Supported More Than 23,700 Credentials
June 11, 2021Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who is the director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, recently announced that following eight funding rounds for Ohio TechCred, more than 23,700 credentials have been approved. A total of 1,310 employers — a large percentage of which are manufacturers — have received reimbursement funds.
OMA members that want to upskill workers and receive reimbursement through TechCred have until 3 p.m., June 30 to apply for the ninth round of the program. See the OMA’s one-pager for more details. 6/10/2021
Ohio Defense Manufacturing Community Begins Effort to Grow Its Workforce
June 11, 2021Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced this week that work has begun in response to a federal program aimed at expanding domestic defense manufacturing capabilities.
Last year, Ohio was designated as a Defense Manufacturing Community and awarded a $5 million Department of Defense grant to improve manufacturing processes, while training workers for next-generation jobs. The grant will be supplemented by a $1.25 million cash match, which includes $650,000 from the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).
The OMA is a partner in this three-year effort that will help at least 26 small and medium-sized defense manufacturers implement advanced technologies and build a more skilled workforce. With the help of OMA-endorsed industry sector partnerships, a minimum of 400 new credentials will be awarded to workers. Businesses interested in joining the Ohio Defense Manufacturing Community project should email the OMA’s Sara Tracey. 6/9/2021
Senate Budget Includes $5M for Industry Sector Partnerships
June 11, 2021As reported elsewhere in this Leadership Briefing, the Senate this week approved its version of the state’s two-year operating budget (House Bill 110). Included in the budget is funding for Ohio’s network of industry sector partnerships (ISP), which are critical to Ohio’s manufacturing workforce development.
While the Senate budget retains the House-approved level of $5 million (over two years) for ISP grants, the current version of the bill includes two earmarks to this competitively awarded grant program. The OMA has repeatedly testified that earmarks compromise the purpose and structure of the program and should not be included. OMA staff will continue to work with the House, Senate, and governor to protect the integrity of the program’s line item as HB 110 now moves to conference committee, where Senate and House leaders will hash out the differences. 6/10/2021