News and Analysis
New OMA Guide: How to Hire High School Students
August 14, 2020On Aug. 20, Ohio’s long-awaited Manufacturing Mentorship Program will go live. Under the program, which was driven by the OMA and created in the state operating budget (House Bill 166), Ohio manufacturers will now be able to employ 16- and 17-year-olds on a part-time basis in manufacturing occupations.
The aim of the program is to expose youth to the many viable, rewarding careers in the industry while strengthening the workforce development pipeline. To participate, manufacturing employers must:
- Set a duration of employment;
- Assign a mentor to the minor;
- Provide required training; and
- Encourage participation in career tech programs.
The OMA has created this short reference document for any manufacturer that wants to take advantage of the new program. The document contains a link to a standardized form from the Ohio Department of Commerce to simplify the recording requirements. 8/11/2020
Ohio’s Initial Jobless Claims Now Under 21K
August 14, 2020Last week, Ohioans filed 20,969 initial applications for unemployment compensation, a reduction of roughly 5,000 from the previous week. Residents submitted 374,751 continued jobless claims – more than 400,000 fewer than the state’s peak earlier this year. Since mid-March, Ohio has sent more than $5.9 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 778,000 individuals. 8/13/2020
TechCred Application Deadline Is Nearing
August 14, 2020Here’s a reminder that Monday, Aug. 31 is the deadline to apply for the latest funding round of Ohio’s TechCred. Under this innovative program to upskill workers, employers can be reimbursed up to $2,000 for each current or incoming employee (and up to $30,000 in total per round). See the OMA’s one-pager for more details. 8/13/2020
New Round of Funding for TechCred
August 7, 2020This week, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced the start of the fifth round of funding for TechCred. Applications may be submitted through Monday, Aug. 31. Under this innovative program to upskill workers, employers can be reimbursed up to $2,000 for each current or incoming employee (and up to $30,000 in total per round). See the OMA’s one-pager for more details.
As a resource to employers, the list of eligible TechCred credentials now includes examples of education and training providers that offer each certificate or certification. Employers can work with a training provider that is not listed.
In the previous application round, which ran throughout June, 302 companies were approved for funding to upskill 3,241 workers. Overall, 695 Ohio employers have so far been approved for reimbursement — supporting 7,473 technology-focused credentials for Ohio employees. Manufacturers have comprised the largest industry group for both applicants and awardees. 8/5/2020
Ohio’s ‘Top Jobs List’ Unveiled
August 7, 2020This week, the DeWine administration announced the launch of Ohio’s Top Jobs List — a customizable, online tool to help Ohioans take advantage of employment opportunities available right now. The list combines the previous In-Demand Jobs list and Critical Jobs list created early in the pandemic.
TopJobs.Ohio.gov includes information on more than 280 occupations, including median salaries, annual growth expectations, current employment numbers, and anticipated open positions. Users can sort by region, level of education required, preferred experience, job category, and whether a job is critical, in-demand or both. 8/4/2020
Webinar: Attracting Funds to Grow the Local Workforce
August 7, 2020On Thursday, Aug. 13, from 10-11 a.m. (ET), the OMA will host a webinar to help local workforce initiatives and industry sector partnerships attract needed funding to support on-the-job training, training program expansion, apprenticeships/earn-and-learn programs, and other key activities.
This webinar will provide tools and information to help industry sector partnerships and local project managers build relationships with — and qualify to receive resources from — philanthropic, community, state and federal funding sources. Here are more details, as well as registration information. 8/5/2020
Ohio Leads U.S. in Foundry Mold and Coremaker Jobs
August 7, 2020According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics (BLS) at the Department of Labor, Ohio leads the country in foundry mold and coremaker jobs, with 3,000 positions statewide. BLS says Ohio employees in this industry were employed at nearly five times the national rate as of May 2019. 8/3/2020
Licking County Program Offers Free Manufacturing Training
August 7, 2020Licking County’s Career and Technology Education Centers (C-TEC) is offering its free, six-week EDGE manufacturing certification program from Aug. 31 to Oct. 8 to provide hands-on training and industry recognized credentials. Space is limited for this six-week, 120-hour course. 8/3/2020
Ohio Has Issued $5.8B in Jobless Payments Since Mid-March
August 7, 2020Ohioans filed 25,952 initial claims for unemployment compensation last week, about 2,000 fewer claims from the previous week. Meanwhile, there were 404,434 continued jobless claims — 371,868 fewer than the peak earlier this year.
Ohio has sent more than $5.8 billion in unemployment compensation payments to more than 771,000 Ohioans over the last 20 weeks. Unemployment benefits are fully funded by employers. 8/6/2020
MFG Day Is Just Around the Corner
July 31, 2020Just a reminder: MFG Day is only two months away.
MFG Day itself is set for Friday, Oct. 2, but events will continue throughout the month. MFG Day, which helps showcase modern manufacturing careers, will be largely conducted virtually this year due to COVID-19. But whether your event will be online or in-person, it’s time to start planning and promoting.
If you’re ready to register your MFG Day event, you can do so here. Also, check out these resources to organize and publicize your event. 7/30/2020