NIMS Awards Record Number of Industry Credentials in 2015
The most credentials awarded were in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the U.S.
The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) awarded a total of 21,420 credentials in 2015—a record number, NIMS says—to people in the United States seeking to enter or advance in industry jobs. The total is a 20 percent increase over the number of credentials issued in 2014. According to the institute’s regional report, the total also represents an increase of more than 500 percent over the number it gave five years earlier in 2010 (4,142). Most of the credentials awarded in 2015 were in the Midwest and Northeast regions, with the top states being Illinois (2,335), Pennsylvania (2,329), Indiana (2,138) and Connecticut (1,144). Texas and California followed with 1,041 and 970 credentials awarded, respectively. In the Southeast, North Carolina led in the number of awards with 718. The states with the fewest awarded credentials were in the Mountain regions, with Wyoming being the only state with zero NIMS credentials awarded for 2015.
“Our industry will need to fill over 100,000 jobs over the next decade, which begins with equipping students and workers today with industry-recognized credentials that prepare them for current and future jobs,” says Jim Wall, executive director. “These jobs will require more advanced skills, particularly around the use of technology, so training candidates to industry standards is imperative.”
NIMS has worked with education, industry and workforce development leadership for over 20 years to develop manufacturing talent. This process includes partnerships and collaboration with industry trade associations, which have invested in and supported the development of NIMS standards and credentials.
“The need for skilled machinists, CNC programmers and operators, and industrial technology maintenance technicians is critical and is expected to grow between 19 and 24 percent over the next decade,” says Greg Chambers, director of compliance for Oberg Industries Inc. and chairman of the board with NIMS. “NIMS credentials ensure that companies, workers, and students keep up with industry standards and job requirements and that training programs prepare individuals with the skills they need to enter and advance in these in-demand jobs.”
NIMS will soon add credentials in Industrial Technology Maintenance and CAM to its portfolio of offerings in the 2016-2017 period.
