Ohio manufacturers this week urged lawmakers to advance Senate Bill 328, legislation aimed at strengthening Ohio’s education-to-workforce alignment through expanded career exploration, improved coaching consistency and greater transparency on workforce outcomes.

Testifying before the Senate Education Committee, Alexis McCullough of THK Manufacturing of America Inc. said workforce shortages remain manufacturers’ most pressing constraint and called for earlier and more intentional career awareness for students. The bill would require structured middle school career exploration, establish a statewide career coaching framework and create an Education and Workforce Return on Investment Initiative to better align education data with labor market demand.

“This is about building the talent pipeline earlier and with greater clarity,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “When students understand how coursework connects to real careers and employers are part of the process, outcomes improve for families and for Ohio’s economy.”

The association said sustainable funding, phased implementation and strong employer partnerships, including through its Career Ambassador Program, will be essential to ensuring the legislation delivers measurable workforce results. 3/3/2026