Workforce Management

Returning Citizens as a Source of Manufacturing Talent

The population of formerly incarcerated individuals is an overlooked pool of potential high-performing manufacturing job candidates.

On Friday, April 23, the OMA will host a free virtual learning event in which a panel of experts will discuss how these returning citizens can be incorporated into Ohio’s working population and benefit your business. Learn more and register here. 4/14/2021

Ohio’s Weekly Jobless Claims Fall by Half to 23K

The number of new unemployment claims hit a five-month low in Ohio last week, suggesting an improving economy and fewer fraudulent claims. Over the last 56 weeks, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has distributed more than $9.4 billion in jobless payments to more than 986,000 Ohioans.

Here’s a look at Ohio’s workforce participation rate and employment-population ratio, as well as employment and unemployment numbers since the start of the pandemic. 4/15/2021

Toolkit Helps Employers Hire, Retain Employees With Disabilities

This week, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced that Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities has launched the Inclusive Employer Toolkit, designed to help employers recruit, hire, and retain employees with disabilities and foster an inclusive workplace. Learn more here. 4/15/2021

Still Time to Apply for Current Round of TechCred

There’s still time for OMA members to apply for the current round of Ohio TechCred, the popular program that reimburses employers that upskill employees who earn technology-focused credentials. The application period closes April 30 at 3 p.m. (See the OMA’s two-pager for more details.)

Keep in mind that TechCred reimbursement can be used to support your apprenticeship program. See this real-world example from the Alliance for Working Together (AWT) — an OMA-endorsed industry sector partnership — as well as this step-by-step guide on how to submit a TechCred application to make your apprenticeship program eligible for reimbursement. For questions, email Sara Tracey. 4/6/2021

Ohio’s First-Time Unemployment Claims Drop 17%

Ohioans filed 44,985 initial applications for unemployment benefits last week, a decrease of 17% from the previous week. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reports that about 3,700 of those claims have been flagged as potentially fraudulent. Overall, Ohioans filed 283,201 continued jobless claims last week, down from 314,698 the week prior.

Unemployment claims in Ohio are 80.54% lower than they were at this time last year, according to this WalletHub comparison. 4/8/2021

LCCC Earn-and-Learn Program Expands in Northeast Ohio

Could your Northeast Ohio manufacturing company expand if you had more talent with training in Automation Engineering Technologies, Digital Fabrication, Computer Aided Machining, Computer Information System Networking and Software Development, Cyber and Information Systems, or Microelectronic Manufacturing?

The Lorain County Community College (LCCC) TRAIN OH program works with regional employers to develop earn-and-learn programs that combine paid part- or fulltime work-based learning for students while they work toward their associate degree.

TRAIN OH was launched in 2016 with the Microelectronic Manufacturing program. Because these graduates have a 100% job placement rate, the model was expanded to include multiple industrial technologies based on demand from area manufacturers.

A significant benefit of the program is that LCCC identifies student job candidates for participating employers.

More than 100 job opportunities have been created as a result of the TRAIN OH program and LCCC has established relationships with 125 employer partners who provide support in a variety of ways. Employer partners include AgriNomix, Lincoln Electric, and Vexos.

If your company is located within 50 miles of LCCC, learn more by contacting Courtney Tenhover, Program Developer, Engineering, Business, and Information Technologies, LCCC. 4/1/2021

Ohio MEP Offers Wage Reimbursement for Student Interns

The Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) High School Internship Program can reimburse up to $1,500.00 of a student intern’s wages (50% of student’s wages up to $3,000).

Current program funding is available on a first come, first serve basis to cover internship wages from June 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

The Stone Bridge Operating Co. LLC, Fleming, OH, indicated this program has allowed it to provide opportunities to twice as many students over the past few years than it could otherwise afford. Jade Products, Inc. Mentor, has sourced an intern through this program and intends to hire him following graduation.

Contact April Vanover at FastLane or your regional Ohio MEP partner. 3/30/2021

Webinar on Demand: Industry Sector Partnerships 101

ICYMI, last week we presented a webinar to communicate how Ohio’s network of industry sector partnerships is helping manufacturers solve local and regional workforce issues.

Industry experts Jessica Borza, Executive Director, Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (MVMC) and Dale Forester, Owner & Vice President, Starr Manufacturing, Inc., Vienna, Ohio, presented a clear picture of the benefits to manufacturers of belonging to an industry sector partnership.

Here is the recorded webinar and handouts. Sara Tracey, OMA’s managing director of workforce services invites you to contact her for more information on starting or joining a local partnership. 3/29/2021

Robotics Training Up and Running in Mahoning Valley

Demand for robotics/automation operator earn-and-learn programs in the Youngstown-Warren market has spawned the creation a robotics operator training program coordinated by the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (MVMC), an OMA-endorsed sector partnership.

MVMC’s program was constructed with direct input from member manufacturers — and it meets five hallmarks of quality: paid work-based learning; related classroom instruction; structured on-the-job training; alignment to nationally portable credentials; and adherence to safety and EEO policies. MVMC worked with the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center (MCCTC) to develop the technical instruction, while creating resources to guide on-the-job training. Last fall, the program’s initial cohort completed training, resulting in eight newly credentialed employees at Pennex Aluminum in Leetonia.

The program is utilizing Ohio TechCred funding, which makes it easier for employers that need training but can’t afford to hire instructors. MVMC and MCCTC assisted participating employers in securing TechCred reimbursement. For more on this sector partnership success story, see this MVMC flyer, as well as this article by The Business Journal. 3/22/2021

Credentials: An Essential Tool in Manufacturing Workforce Development

Industry-recognized credentials are in the spotlight thanks to programs like TechCred and the work of Ohio’s industry sector partnerships. The Ohio Department of Education has recognized credentials as a way for high school students to demonstrate readiness for careers prior to graduation.

Despite growing awareness and acceptance of this workforce tool, some manufacturers are still reluctant to adopt credentials as part of their talent development strategy. But there are important reasons to embrace industry-recognized credentials, including:

1. Promoting the knowledge and skills employers are looking for and students should be mastering to prepare for their careers;
2. Creating a stronger candidate pool with demonstrated competency; and
3. Making existing workers more valuable through upskilling, thereby increasing retention and productivity.

Email Sara Tracey for more on how to efficiently use credentials in recruiting, hiring, and training your workforce. 3/24/2021