Breakout sessions at the eighth annual Workforce Summit equipped educators, workforce partners and manufacturers with new tools to support student engagement and talent development. Attendees learned more about the new MakingOhio Hands-on Group Activities, designed to spark interest in manufacturing through collaborative, tactile learning. Updates to the Competency Model Curriculum Assessment also offer clearer alignment between instruction and the industry knowledge, skills, and abilities manufacturers need.

Speakers highlighted strategies to strengthen employer engagement, build awareness among young learners and support populations facing barriers to employment. These sessions emphasized replicable models that can be applied regionally to improve career awareness and accelerate entry into in-demand pathways.

As these tools continue to scale statewide, manufacturers interested in exploring workforce models, such as WorkAdvance, or expanding outreach efforts are encouraged to engage with their local ISP to get involved. 11/6/2025