Workforce Management

Webinar: Robotic Process Automation in Manufacturing

Many manufacturing companies are looking for ways to improve efficiency. The experts at OMA Connections Partner Plante Moran will host a free webinar at 2 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, Aug. 20, addressing robotic process automation (RPA) — an emerging technology for performing repetitive tasks. The webinar will focus on RPA’s applicability to manufacturers. 7/28/2020

Last Call for Presentations: Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Summit 2020

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit will be held virtually on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Using the feedback from previous summits, the focus for this year’s event will be practical solutions and tools for hiring, training and retaining your best manufacturing workforce — even during COVID-19.

If you have a workforce innovation story to tell, we are looking for presenters who can share lessons learned or success stories addressing:

• Building your talent pipeline;
• Best recruitment strategies;
• Apprenticeship and earn-and-learn programs;
• Incumbent worker strategies; and
• Sector partnership strategies.

Interested? Please complete this survey, or email Sara Tracey. If selected, your content will be recorded ahead of the event — making things easy for you. 7/28/2020

At a Glance: Ohio’s Unemployment by County

Ohio’s unemployment situation continues to vary widely throughout 88 counties. According to the latest monthly unemployment rate map from the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, six counties saw jobless rates above 13% — compared to the statewide average of 10.9%. Holmes County had the lowest unemployment at 5%.

Meanwhile, the job search engine at OhioMeansJobs.com currently has more than 167,000 jobs posted by employers statewide. More than 13,000 of these job postings are in manufacturing. 7/27/2020

Presenters Wanted for the Ohio Workforce Summit

The 2020 Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit, which will be held online due to the pandemic, is set for Wednesday, Oct. 28. This is the OMA’s biggest event of the year, attracting hundreds of participants from across the Buckeye State.

We are actively seeking presenters for the summit. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your workforce project or best practice. In particular, we’re looking for thought-provoking, engaging content to spotlight best practices, tools, and lessons learned in the following areas:

• Talent pipeline programs;
• Recruitment strategies, including from underrepresented populations;
• Apprenticeships (earn-and-learn programs);
• Incumbent worker strategies; and
• Sector partnership best practices.

Each presenter will work with OMA staff and our production team to edit content or create new, pre-recorded content for the summit. If you would like to be considered as a Workforce Summit presenter, click here to learn more. 7/22/2020

Virtual Robotics Conference, September 8-11

The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) — which includes Ohio companies working with the OMA on robotics and automation initiatives — has announced that Robotics Week will be held Sept. 8-11. Join experts from the leading robotics and automation companies as the industry comes together (virtually) for four days of educational sessions, keynotes and exhibits. Learn more about this online event. 7/21/2020

Ohio Unemployment Payments Exceed $5.5B

Ohioans filed 30,138 initial claims for unemployment compensation last week — a drop of more than 5,000 from the previous week. Workers filed 423,672 continued jobless claims last week, down 352,630 compared with the state’s peak earlier this year.

Ohio has sent more than $5.5 billion in unemployment compensation payments — funded completely by employers — to more than 757,000 Ohioans over the last 18 weeks. 7/24/2020

MakingOhio.com Features Job Categories, Descriptions

The Making Ohio initiative and MakingOhio.com were established by the OMA and its partners to spotlight the many exciting, well-paying careers in modern manufacturing. To help students, young workers, and career-switchers visualize manufacturing’s opportunities for growth and advancement, MakingOhio.com features updated job categories and job descriptions — complete with estimated salaries, education requirements, and job opening figures.

Check out these features at MakingOhio.com. Then share the information with others so they are aware of manufacturing’s many opportunities. 7/14/2020

OMA Workforce Committee Discusses 2020 Workforce Summit

This week, the OMA’s Workforce Leadership Committee held its second meeting of the year. Among the key topics discussed was the 2020 Ohio Manufacturers’ Workforce Summit, which will be held online due to the pandemic. The summit is set for Wednesday, Oct. 28. More details and registration information will be available soon.

Jessica Borza, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturing Coalition, discussed efforts to provide technical assistance to manufacturing sector partnerships across the state. She reminded members that the Ohio Manufacturing Workforce Partnership recently released a new guide — titled Innovative Earn-and-Learn Strategies for Building Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce — to assist manufacturers and their community partners in developing apprenticeship projects.

Also addressed were strategies to promote this year’s MFG Day, which will be held Oct. 2, with events continuing throughout October. A broader discussion was held on efforts to recruit women, minorities, veterans and ex-offenders to boost local manufacturing talent pipelines. 7/16/2020

Ohio Receives $9.4 Million to Expand Apprenticeships

This week, it was announced that Ohio will receive a $9.4 million federal grant to support the state’s registered apprenticeship program and expand apprenticeship opportunities. The grant will fund system improvements, incentives for employers to pay for the costs of training and tools, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities to serve underrepresented communities.

With 19,000 registered apprentices, Ohio ranks second in the country, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. 7/14/2020

Grants Available to Expand Manufacturing Apprenticeship Programs for Women

U.S Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH 12th District) has announced an opportunity for communities to access federal funds through the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations (WANTO) Technical Assistance Grant Program.

DOL is awarding $4.1 million in grants to community organizations to recruit, mentor, train, and retain more women in quality apprenticeship programs — and help those women pursue successful careers in manufacturing and other industries. The deadline to apply is Aug. 3, 2020. 7/15/2020