Workforce Management

TechCred Deadline Is September 29

Time is running out to apply for the current funding round of Ohio’s TechCred — the popular training program that reimburses employers up to $30,000 per round to upskill employees. Applications can be submitted until 3 p.m. Sept. 29. Employers of any size may apply here. 9/14/2023

Ohio Educators Get Firsthand Look at Manufacturing

Dozens of educators from Marion and Crawford counties started the new school year by participating in manufacturing boot camps, which provided insight into the industry’s workforce challenges, according to this story.

Funded by the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, the camps were hosted by local manufacturers, including OMA members ArcelorMittal, Graphic Packaging, Nucor Steel, POET, Sakamura, Whirlpool, and Wilson Bohannan. 9/6/2023

List Your Apprenticeships at No Cost

At last check, there were more than 1,300 registered apprenticeship opportunities posted at OhioMeansJobs.com. Members that want to post their apprenticeship openings on Ohio’s jobs listing site may do so by visiting this page. 9/5/2023

In-Demand Jobs Survey Is Now Open

Ohio’s In-Demand Jobs Survey is now open, according to the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. This survey allows all Ohio businesses to provide feedback on the state’s Top Jobs List, which guides workforce training priorities and federal funding.

This is an opportunity for manufacturers to help ensure valuable resources are being used to meet the talent needs of the industry. Click here to take the survey. 9/7/2023

Webinar: Make Your Company Military Ready

On Sept. 26, the Manufacturing Institute will host a no-cost webinar on how to make your company military ready.

Hosted by a retired Army colonel and the outreach programs lead for Koch Industries, this event will help participants understand challenges with the military-to-civilian transition — and how to create a military recruiting-and-retention strategy. Register here. 9/7/2023

Webinar: Creating a High School Internship Program

To help manufacturers create a workforce pipeline, the Manufacturing Institute recently unveiled this high school internship toolkit. It includes a student interview evaluation form and internship training plan.

Members should note that at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, the Institute will host a no-cost webinar to help participants create their own internship program. Register here. 9/7/2023

Tips for Hosting Your MFG Day Event

MFG Day (Oct. 6) and MFG Month (October) are only a month away. These are among the most prominent opportunities to connect with the next generation of manufacturers.

Members planning to host a MFG Day or MFG Month event are encouraged to start planning now, if they haven’t already. Here are some suggestions:

• Partner with your local industry sector partnership. It’s a great way to coordinate activities, including plant tours.
• Use the these no-cost resources from the Manufacturing Institute.
• Register your event so it can be placed on this map, published by the Manufacturing Institute.

As of Aug. 29, Ohio already had 20 events listed on the Institute’s map, more than any other state. 8/29/2023

TechCred Accepting Applications in September

The latest application round of Ohio’s TechCred begins Sept. 1. The popular training program, which reimburses employers up to $30,000 per round, will accept applications until 3 p.m. Sept. 29. Employers of all sizes may apply here.

Ohio’s new biennial budget invests $50 million in TechCred over two years. This funding level was proposed by the DeWine-Husted administration and advocated by the OMA. 8/29/2023

Search Begins for Education and Workforce Department Leader

The process of filling the top three positions at Ohio’s revamped education department is underway.

Gongwer News Service reports Gov. Mike DeWine has said the administration is in the process of interviewing candidates to serve as director of the Department of Education and Workforce, as authorized by the state’s biennial budget (House Bill 33).

The governor will appoint the director of the reorganized department; then the new director appoint deputies to head separate divisions focused on career-technical education and K-12 learning. All three positions are subject to approval by the Ohio Senate. 8/22/2023

Study: Manufacturers Are Slow to Adopt Credentials

A new study indicates many manufacturers don’t view credentials as the most relevant tools to find new workers.

According to HR Dive, the study — conducted in partnership with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership — found that manufacturers are investing heavily in training without a way to showcase or validate employee skills. The study recommends that employers capture formal training with credentialing to signify the kind of skills each worker has earned on the job.

For more on recommended credentials, use this tool produced by the OMA. 8/24/2023