Workforce Management

OMA Webinar: Talent Recruitment Strategies

On Thursday, July 29, the OMA will host a webinar to explore talent recruitment strategies — and identify which ones are working. Participants will learn where recruiters and talent management professionals are looking for candidates, how they’re communicating job opportunities, and what tactics are attracting candidates. Presenters will touch on challenges and opportunities related to wages, workplace flexibility, company culture, job quality, and more. Learn more and register. 7/14/2021

Women in Manufacturing: 2021 STEP Ahead Honorees Announced

This week, The Manufacturing Institute — the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers — announced the 2021 STEP Ahead honorees. Included in this group of 100 distinguished women and 30 rising female leaders in manufacturing are employees of several OMA members.

The STEP Ahead Awards were created to inspire manufacturers to bridge the gender gap and focus attention on the widespread impact that women have on shaping the industry. For more information, email AJ Jorgenson at the Institute. 7/13/2021

In-Demand Jobs Survey for Businesses

Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted have announced a new survey for Ohio businesses to provide feedback regarding the state’s In-Demand Jobs List.

Ohio’s In-Demand Jobs List is an important tool used by policymakers who oversee workforce development policy. The survey is open to all registered Ohio businesses, ensuring that businesses of all sizes have a voice in workforce development decisions. Click here to participate. 7/8/2021

Preparing Ohio Students for 3D Printing Careers

America Makes announced last week the Ohio Secondary Education Additive Manufacturing Training Network. Created in collaboration with and support from the Ohio Development Services Agency, the initiative is designed to prepare high school students for careers in additive manufacturing by — among other things — offering industry-recognized credentials and badges, as well as providing tailored training and coaching to educators.

Ten Ohio secondary schools — several of which are active members of OMA-endorsed industry sector partnerships — were selected to participate. See the list of participating schools. 7/7/2021

Adult Learner Scholarship Complements Earn-and-Learn Initiative in SW Ohio

TechSolve — Southwest Ohio’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) — is working with OMA-endorsed sector partnership Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership (AMIP) to expand the area’s manufacturing workforce.

TechSolve recently announced the Middletown Community Foundation’s adult learner scholarships to support hiring of residents from select communities in Butler and Warren counties. When employers hire these residents, the employees can apply for the scholarships, which can be used to offset training costs of earn-and-learn programs.

Traci Barnett, executive director of the Middletown Community Foundation Executive Director, said the foundation is proud to offer financial assistance to those upskilling or seeking education or certificates to improve their employability.” The scholarship award amounts are $1,000 or $2,000. 7/8/2021

Central Ohio Manufacturers: Learn About Your Industry Sector Partnership

Central Ohio manufacturers looking to learn how an industry sector partnership can help with workforce challenges have an upcoming opportunity. The Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership (COMP) — an OMA-endorsed industry sector partnership for 11 counties — will hold an in-person (with virtual option) informational session Thursday, July 15 from 1-2 p.m. at Columbus State Community College’s Center for Workforce Development Building. Learn more. 7/8/2021

Creators Wanted Unveils Mobile Manufacturing Experience

The National Association of Manufacturers and The Manufacturing Institute recently unveiled their Creators Wanted experience in Dallas. Billed as a “mobile manufacturing experience,” this campaign will soon embark on a tour around the country, showing Americans what modern manufacturing is all about — with a focus on boosting America’s manufacturing talent pipeline.

Here is more information about the Creators Wanted campaign. 7/6/2021

Budget Dedicates $71M to Develop Ohio’s Skilled Workforce

OMA’s advocacy efforts to enhance Ohio’s workforce development continue to pay dividends for manufacturers. Under the new budget, the legislature sustained funding for TechCred and Industry Sector Partnership grants, both priorities of the administration.

Funded at $25 million over the biennium, TechCred will continue enhancing Ohio’s skilled manufacturing workforce by reimbursing employers that help their employees earn industry-recognized credentials. To date, more than 23,700 credentials have been approved under the program, while 1,310 employers — a large percentage of which are manufacturers — have received reimbursement funds.

The legislature also allocated $2.5 million in funding for both years of the budget ($5 million combined) for the Industry Sector Partnership grant program. While the line-item does, unfortunately, include earmarks, the remaining funds for this competitively awarded grant program will assist in growing collaborative, industry-led partnerships that help develop the next generation of workers.

Lastly, the two-year budget dedicates $20.5 million per fiscal year to funding industry-recognized credentials for high school students. Of this amount, $8 million a year will reimburse schools for costs associated with credential testing, while the remaining $12.5 million will fund the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program, which provides incentive payments to schools for students that earn industry-recognized credentials. 6/30/2021

Ohio Unveils New Workforce Resources

At this week’s meeting of the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted unveiled two new online resources that will be of interest to manufacturers and their workforce partners.

One is a new SkillsMatch tool, which is embedded in the resume upload function at OhioMeansJobs.com. The site uses AI to match jobseeker skills to job openings posted by employers. (This video shows how to access the new tool.)

The other new resource is the TechCred Dashboard on the Data Ohio website. There you can see all TechCred awardees, listed by company and region. 6/22/2021

June 30 Is TechCred Application Deadline

Workforce skills improvement was the largest job-related concern of manufacturers, according to a recent survey by Quality magazine. Data analytics, programming, and automation were the top areas of interest for training.

One way to boost Ohio manufacturing’s tech skills — especially for smaller manufacturers — is by utilizing TechCred, Ohio’s innovative employer-reimbursement program, which helps employees earn industry-recognized credentials. The deadline for employers to apply for the current funding round is 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 30. Learn more. 6/22/2021