Workforce Management

Creators Wanted Tour Coming to Ohio, Oct. 4-7

To help close the manufacturing talent gap while engaging the next generation of workers, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and The Manufacturing Institute are bringing the Creators Wanted Live tour to Columbus Oct. 4 through Oct. 7 at Columbus State Community College in the Mitchell Hall parking lot (224 Cleveland Ave. in Columbus).

Ohio is the first stop of this tour, which features a new, immersive experience aimed at inspiring job seekers, students, parents, and teachers by spotlighting rewarding careers in modern manufacturing. It will provide attendees with the resources needed to take the first step to becoming a future creator.

OMA members are invited to take part in this high-profile event. Click here to reserve your spot for the mobile exhibit. For questions, email Ed Moran or Meghan Graf. 9/23/2021

Virtual Reality Experience Coming to MakingOhio.com

Ohio students will soon be able to experience manufacturing through virtual reality (VR). The OMA will host a VR mobile application developed by TRANSFRVR and featured at MakingOhio.com. This will allow students to use their phones to visit a customized VR experience, as though they were actually in a manufacturing setting.

This tool will also allow schools and employers to better identify student interest in manufacturing careers. Check MakingOhio.com late next week when the experience goes live. 9/23/2021

‘Ohio To Work’ Expands Statewide

This week, Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted — along with JobsOhio — announced the expansion of the “Ohio To Work” initiative into Columbus, Toledo, Cincinnati, Dayton, and the Mahoning Valley.

In short, Ohio To Work is a compilation of regional organizations partnering to recruit, train, and match job seekers with employers. The initiative was launched in Cleveland last September as a pilot program. Led by JobsOhio, it provides pathways to in-demand jobs through personalized career coaching, accelerated training, and local employer connections.

More than 70 employers — including manufacturers — have committed to hiring job seekers through this program. If your business is currently seeking employees and is interested in participating, click here. 9/23/2021

Teacher Resources for MFG Day

Only a couple weeks remain until Manufacturing Day and Manufacturing Month. That’s why the OMA — through MakingOhio.com — has assembled various resources to help educators expose young Ohioans to the world of manufacturing and its many career paths. These videos, interactive sites, and classroom planning documents cover key topics such as additive manufacturing, engineering, and machining. See all the teacher resources. 9/14/2021

Another Request for MFG Day TikTok Videos

We are still encouraging OMA members to submit TikTok videos for MFG Day 2021 to help reach middle- and high-school age students, as well as their parents. The videos will be used on a new Making Ohio social media channels.

It’s easy to create TikToks using a smartphone. Here are guidelines to help you develop and submit a video. 9/16/2021

OMA Board Member Spotlights Stark County Partnership

OMA board member James Batchelder, president of The M.K. Morse Company in Canton, was recently profiled by The Repository, Canton’s community newspaper. Batchelder was spotlighted for his role in helping form the Stark County Manufacturing Workforce Development Partnership — one of more than a dozen OMA-endorsed sector partnerships covering every region of the state.

Batchelder told the publication that the partnership is “working to increase the manufacturing workforce in Stark County by bringing awareness of manufacturing opportunities to students and job seekers.” 9/15/2021

Festo’s Ohio Expansion a Boost for Workforce, Automation

Festo Didactic Learning Systems North America recently announced its plans to relocate its Solution Center production and logistics capabilities from New Jersey to Mason, Ohio. A provider of equipment and solutions for technical education in factory and process automation, Festo is one of several OMA members and OEMs contributing to an automation and robotics toolkit to help Ohio’s sector partnerships accelerate workforce readiness for Industry 4.0. 9/15/2021

Free Training Resources for OMA Members

Manufacturers interested in upskilling their employees don’t need to reinvent the wheel. OMA’s SkillsCommons portal provides easy-to-access, high-quality training resources that have been curated and vetted by OMA members.

These free resources can be downloaded and customized for in-house training or for implementation by a sector partnership or local education provider. Browse curriculum, lesson plans, and online training modules for everything from soft skills to supervision to safety. And check out the Women in Sustainable Employment (WISE) Pathways resources to help more women engage in manufacturing careers. 9/7/2021

Report: Generation of Men Giving Up on College

This week, The Wall Street Journal (subscription) highlighted the widening gender gap at America’s two- and four-year colleges. The story has a strong Ohio focus.

According to the Journal, U.S. colleges and universities had 1.5 million fewer students compared with five years ago; men accounted for 71% of the decline. The gender gap cuts across race, geography, and economic background. Education professionals say many young men are “hobbled by a lack of guidance and growing belief that college degrees don’t pay off.”

While it’s likely there will be long-term implications related to this development, manufacturers have an immediate opportunity to educate more Gen Z males about the well-paying opportunities in manufacturing. For resources, check out MakingOhio.com — and get involved with the industry sector partnership in your area. 9/7/2021

Oct. 27-28 Workforce Summit to Address Labor Shortage

It’s not too early to register for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit — an all-virtual event set for two half-days on Oct. 27 and 28.

Amid the record labor shortage, this summit will present manufacturers with creative strategies to recruit and retain employees, including capitalizing on diversity and inclusion; utilizing military veterans; and recruiting formerly incarcerated individuals as a talent source. See the OMA’s press release for more details. 9/8/2021