On March 1, NBC Nightly News reported on the shift from old-line manufacturing to a more advanced skill set.
A current concern for the manufacturing industry is this: When the current workforce retires, who will be left to man the machines? It’s no secret that manufacturers are having a hard time finding qualified employees to hire.
As this NBC Nightly News story reports, today’s employees need a much higher skill set than they did in the past. According to the news report, they need a strong grip on science, technology, engineering and math.
MAG IAS and Gateway Community College in Park Hills, KY are helping equip the next-generation workforce with the skills they need to find jobs in manufacturing via an apprenticeship program. Since 2007, this program has provided related classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Successful candidates are hired as full-time employees by MAG, and the company pays 100 percent of their tuition.
The program includes three areas of study: Four-year programs are designed to train run-off technicians and electrical technicians, while a three-year curriculum is designed to train assembly technicians. MAG currently employs seven apprentices and will add six more positions next year.
The company also has cooperative education programs with the University of Cincinnati, University of Louisville, University of Dayton, University of Kentucky, Miami University and Cincinnati State.
