Workforce Management

OMA Releases 2021 Workforce Roadmap

To update its workforce strategies and goals for the new year, the OMA has published its 2021 Workforce Roadmap. Goals include:

• Increasing the number of counties served by manufacturing sector partnerships;
• Implementing a statewide earn-and-learn model to address the entry-level production worker gap;
• Building sector partnership capacity to increase outreach, enrollment, and job placement; and
• Launching regional Making Ohio campaigns.

Ohio manufacturers are encouraged to get involved with their local sector partnership to address their workforce challenges. For information on how your business can become directly involved with the OMA’s workforce services, email Sara Tracey. 1/14/2021

Ohio’s Initial Jobless Applications up 26% Last Week

Ohioans filed 37,309 initial applications for unemployment compensation last week, according to the Department of Job and Family Services. The increase in first-time filings was about 26% higher than the previous week.

There were more than 278,000 continued jobless claims last week, and more than $7.7 billion in unemployment payments have been sent to more than 895,000 Ohioans over the last 43 weeks. 1/14/2021

In the News: Cuyahoga County’s Workforce Connect

Workforce Connect — the OMA-endorsed industry sector partnership serving Cuyahoga County — was recently in the news for its ACCESS to Manufacturing Careers program.

According to this story by Spectrum News, the ACCESS program — with its diversity scholarships and training — are helping companies find talent, while giving ex-offenders a second chance to be productive members of society. MAGNET, which is Northeast Ohio’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), expects that a couple hundred individuals will find manufacturing employment through the ACCESS program. 1/11/2021

Raise the Bar Hancock County in the News

Raise the Bar Hancock County — one of several OMA-endorsed industry sector partnerships — was recently in the news again for its Ohio Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (OH FAME) program.

According to Toledo’s WTOL11, the 18-month program gives individuals “just out of high school, college or a previous career” the chance to become advanced manufacturing technicians for seven local businesses — all by working three days a week and attending class at Owens Community College two days a week. 1/5/2020

Funding Opportunity for Industry Sector Partnerships

The Ohio Department of Education is seeking grant applications from industry sector partnerships and other collaborative groups to increase the number of K-12 students earning industry recognized credentials. Awards are up to $150,000.

This is a great opportunity for manufacturing sector partnerships to strengthen their collaboration with their local Education Service Center, school districts, and career and technical centers. Here are the details.

For those interested in applying, a technical assistance webinar will be held Jan. 19 from 1-2 p.m. (RSVPs required.) Applications are due Feb. 12. 1/7/2021

Webinar Will Examine One of Ohio’s Model Earn-and-Learn Programs for Manufacturers

On Jan. 21, the OMA is hosting a webinar entitled “An Earn-and-Learn Model for All Sizes of Manufacturers.” This event will give participants an in-depth look at Columbus State Community College’s Modern Manufacturing Work Study (MMWS) program, an innovative earn-and-learn model that manufacturers of any size can adopt.

MMWS enables manufacturers to upskill their workforce through academic programming hosted at their worksites. For details and registration information, click here. 1/5/2021

TechCred Applications Due Jan. 29

Ohio TechCred is now taking applications for its seventh round of funding. Employers have until Jan. 29 to submit their applications for this popular employer reimbursement program to upskill employees. For more, see the OMA’s one-pager. 1/4/2021