Workforce Management

Learn to Leverage Women Talent

On 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

The 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

Governor 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

Ohio 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

A 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

IndustryWeek 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

A 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

In 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

Illuminate USA Begins Production of Solar Panels in Pataskala

This week, Illuminate USA began production on state-of-the-art solar panels at their facility in Pataskala, Ohio, making them one of the national leaders in solar panel manufacturing.

By the fall, Illuminate expects to have eight assembly lines running with the capacity to build 9.2 million solar panels annually. 2/19/2024

Slots Still Available for OMA’s Untapped Talent Training Series

Only three spots remain for manufacturers to join the Untapped Talent Training Series focused on Justice-Impacted Individuals. This training series will teach participants best practices in hiring and retaining justice-impacted individuals as an under-represented group in manufacturing. Sponsored by Ohio’s Good Jobs Challenge, the series is available at no cost to manufacturers.

To participate virtually, click here and complete the interest form. Sessions begin in March. 2/22/2024