Workforce Management

Call for Exhibitors: Oct. 28 Workforce Summit

This year, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit — which will be held virtually on Oct. 28 — is providing opportunities for exhibitors. If you offer workforce training or other services to manufacturers, this online event offers your organization widespread exposure throughout Ohio’s manufacturing community.

Registration for the summit starts next week, so if you’re interested in being an exhibitor, receive maximum exposure by committing soon. Email the OMA’s Dan Noreen or call (614) 348-1225 — or see this flyer for further details. 9/15/2020

Talent Development in the Era of Industry 4.0

To build Ohio’s manufacturing talent pipeline, the OMA has helped lead a statewide initiative to upskill Ohioans with innovative earn-and-learn (apprenticeship) strategies. Earn-and-learn opportunities will be especially important as technology continues to transform the sector.

New insight from OMA Connections Partner Clark Schaefer Hackett reinforces this perspective. The firm says manufacturers “will need to implement effective change management throughout the organization to educate, train, and upskill workers for the high-tech profession manufacturing is becoming.” 9/14/2020

Register for Next Week’s STEP Ahead Awards Event

The Manufacturing Institute’s STEP Ahead Awards, which honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in manufacturing careers, are fast approaching. Register here to join the event virtually on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m. (ET).

At a Glance: Ohio’s Unemployment by County

Ohio has sent $6.3 billion in unemployment payments to more than 804,000 Ohioans over the last 26 weeks — but the unemployment situation continues to improve with the statewide jobless rate at 8.9%, compared to 10.2% nationally. According to the latest monthly unemployment rate map, only seven counties saw jobless rates above 11% or higher as of July. Holmes County had the lowest unemployment at 4.1%.

Meanwhile, Gov. Mike DeWine this week unveiled the “Ohio to Work” program, a new effort to re-skill workers and match them with employers, including manufacturers. For now, the initiative is focused on the Greater Cleveland area — using the expertise of several organizations, including MAGNET, the MEP for Northeast Ohio. Employers in Cuyahoga County that are interested in participating in this program can click here. 9/17/2020

New Tool for Developing Work-Based Learning Programs

Earlier this year, members of the OMA Workforce Community and the OMA Automation and Robotics Task Force participated in an initiative led by the Urban Institute — and supported by the U.S. Department of Labor — to develop competency-based occupational frameworks for work-based learning programs. The purpose of these frameworks is to help employers establish their own apprenticeship programs.

Volunteers from OMA’s Workforce Community weighed in on the framework for robotics technicians, an important field in the emerging Industry 4.0. This framework, along with 19 other occupations, are available now. 9/9/2020

Talent Management Continues to Challenge Auto Suppliers

Original equipment manufacturers and suppliers will need to continuously assess employee retention plans and be more strategic in anticipating future workforce needs, especially when it comes to new uses of automation.

That’s the finding of new analysis by OMA Connections Partner RSM. According to the firm, while auto suppliers have grappled with workforce issues for years, talent management has taken on a new form since the pandemic began. 9/8/2020

Survey: Skill Gap is Top Pandemic Challenge for Many Small Businesses

One in five small business leaders and one in three mid-size business leaders say a lack of employee skills is their biggest challenge in responding to the pandemic. According to HR Dive, a new survey shows that 61% of respondents said they would increase their training budgets in response to COVID-19. 9/10/2020

Midwest Manufacturers Expect Hiring Boost in Q4

Manpower Group’s latest quarterly jobs outlook shows that 20% of surveyed U.S. employers expect to add to their payrolls in the fourth quarter, with 8% anticipating a decrease and 67% expecting no change.

When comparing different regions of the country, the strongest hiring was anticipated in the Midwest, which includes Ohio. Midwest manufacturers expected to see a sizable hiring increase — 21% in non-durable goods and 13% in durable goods. 9/9/2020

Here’s Guidance for Your Virtual MFG Day Event

To prepare for this year’s MFG Day on Oct. 2, The Manufacturing Institute — the workforce and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers — hosted this webinar last week to help manufacturers plan virtual MFG Day events. If you’re planning to host a MFG Day event any time in October, see these suggestions noted in the Institute’s webinar.

Members should be aware that workforce development consulting group Edge Factor, which develops content for educators, has offered manufacturers this free “Rock MFG Day” tookkit.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 10 to 11 a.m. (ET), the OMA will host its own one-hour webinar to help Ohio manufacturers with their virtual MFG Day (or Manufacturing Month) events. 9/9/2020

Here’s Help for Hosting a Virtual MFG Event

On Thursday, September 17, 2020 from 10 – 11 a.m., OMA is hosting a webinar to help manufacturers plan virtual MFG Day events for Manufacturing Month in October.

This year, as COVID-19 forces educators and businesses to rethink how to safely train and teach, MFG Day activities are — for the most part — going virtual.

If you’ve shelved your plans for MFG Day this year, or you are looking for ideas and support from your peers for your event, join this one-hour webinar. 8/28/2020