Workforce Management

OMA’s Untapped Talent Training Series

The OMA is still offering opportunities for manufacturers and ISPs to engage with the Untapped Talent Training Series, aimed at optimizing recruitment and retention.

• Choose from the Fixed Group format, ideal for company teams, focusing on justice-impacted individuals and people of color with spots available until their next April sessions
• Or explore broader themes in the Open Forum series, accessible to an unlimited audience, featuring upcoming sessions on military culture and fair chance background screening in April

Discover more and sign up on our Training Series webpage. 4/04/2024

Leverage Ohio Technical Centers for Your Manufacturing Workforce

Manufacturers can discover how Ohio Technical Centers (OTCs) can help support their workforce development strategy by joining their webinar on April 9, 2024. The discussion will feature insights from four OTC directors from across Ohio, showcasing training opportunities and OTCs impact on career and technical education. Additionally, participating manufacturers will:

• Gain firsthand perspectives on the evolution of technical education and its direct benefits to the manufacturing sector;
• Explore the comprehensive network of OTC programs, from hands-on training that aligns with industry needs to strategic partnerships fostering workforce readiness; and
• Participate in a live Q&A with OTC leaders to address your specific workforce challenges and opportunities

Even if manufacturers cannot join live, still register to receive the recorded session.

Learn more and register here. 4/04/2024

JFF Launches Workforce Campaign for Economic Opportunity

Jobs for the Future (JFF) has released recommendations for federal and state policymakers to focus on eliminating barriers to economic and workforce opportunity. JFF advocates for a shift towards policies that support seamless career pathways, recognize diverse skills and competencies, and facilitate choices that advance both career and family life.

Their “No Dead Ends” initiative outlines a vision for an integrated earn-and-learn ecosystem, addressing the needs of learners and workers at risk of being sidelined by economic and technological changes. Click here to learn more about these workforce policy recommendations. 4/04/2024

DOE Launches Workforce Strategy for Lithium-Battery Manufacturing

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a national workforce development initiative for lithium-battery manufacturing, led by the US Department of Labor (DOL). With a $5 million investment, the strategy aims to launch pilot training programs and foster partnerships between industry and labor.

Additionally, the DOE and DOL have unveiled the Battery Workforce Initiative (BWI)’s National Guideline Standards for registered apprenticeships for battery machine operators, setting a foundation for training in this rapidly expanding sector. This initiative is part of a broader national effort to secure a sustainable, domestic supply of critical minerals like lithium and emphasizes the creation of skilled jobs. 4/04/2024

OMA Showcases Ohio Successes in Washington D.C.

Last week in Washington D.C., OMA staff presented at the Good Jobs Challenge (GJC) Community of Practice Annual Convening. This event, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, the National Association of Workforce Boards, and Jobs for the Future, convened 32 grantees from across the nation for an exchange on bolstering state and regional workforce training systems.

The OMA highlighted Ohio’s Industry Sector Partnerships (ISPs), which have set a national benchmark for collaboration and innovation. New Growth Group, working with the OMA, emphasized data’s role in ISP success. Additionally, the OMA’s Ken Poland and Beth Hahn led a panel discussion on ISP network development and expansion.

3/21/2024

High Educator Engagement with Ohio MFG Competency Model

The OMA’s initiative to align educational outcomes with the needs of the manufacturing industry has seen significant traction. Nearly 150 educators statewide have engaged in the Ohio Manufacturing Competency Model’s Train-the-Trainer sessions co-hosted by OMA and Accenture in the past week.

This enthusiastic response is a promising shift towards tailoring educational programs to meet the specific skill requirements of manufacturers. Schools in Ohio are evaluating and adjusting their manufacturing-focused curricula in line with industry demands.

Manufacturers are encouraged to engage with the Ohio Manufacturing Competency Model and join the list of manufacturers endorsing the initiative. Your support can further enhance the alignment between manufacturing careers and educational pathways in Ohio. 3/21/2024

WorkAdvance Helps Attract Young People to Manufacturing Careers

Ohio’s WorkAdvance Program is instrumental in addressing a critical industry challenge: engaging young people with manufacturing careers while they are still enrolled in K-12 education.

WorkAdvance blends soft skills training, technical training, and career readiness such as resume writing and interview preparation. See WorkAdvance’s impact in action through this success story showcasing the initiative’s role in linking young talent with fulfilling manufacturing careers.

Learn more about how WorkAdvance is shaping Ohio’s manufacturing workforce here. 3/21/2024

Training Series Seeks Manufacturers Hiring Justice-Impacted Individuals

The OMA is still seeking manufacturers to join the Untapped Talent Training Series on attracting and retaining justice-impacted individuals into manufacturing careers. Facilitated by subject-matter expert Envoy, these trainings provide strategies for expanding manufacturers’ talent pipeline through untapped talent populations that have not traditionally participated in the manufacturing workforce.

To join the series, complete this sign-up form. For more details and the schedule, click here. 3/21/2024

The Ohio Manufacturing Competency Model: A Unified Vision for Workforce Excellence

Led 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

The 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