Omaha World Herald Editorial - Dream it Do it. Jobs
Great editorial in the Omaha World Herald – read below, or click on link: http://www.omaha.com/article/20110912/NEWS0802/709129987/-1
Published Monday September 12, 2011
World-Herald editorial: Jobs in our own backyard
Job creation rightly tops the list of America's national priorities this year.
In Nebraska, it's encouraging to see people stepping forward in a big way to educate young people about important job opportunities in the state's manufacturing sector.
Manufacturers are keen on letting young people know about the opportunities for good reason: About one-fourth of the nation's manufacturing work force is 55 or older, and those impending retirements will hit the manufacturing sector hard.
"These people have many, many years of experience and skills, and the young people aren't entering those career paths in sufficient numbers to make a difference," said Kelly Christensen, an associate dean at Central Community College's campus in Hastings, one of Nebraska's manufacturing hubs.
This issue will be a focus of a state conference of Nebraska manufacturers to be held at Omaha's CenturyLink Center on Wednesday.
In 2009, the activity from Nebraska manufacturing enterprises — assembling industrial machinery, producing fabricated metals, fabricating auto parts, putting together lawn mowers — totaled some $9 billion. That was nearly 11 percent of the state's economic output.
Nebraska manufacturing companies employ more than 120,000 people, accounting for about 10 percent of the state's employment. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, manufacturing compensation on average is 34 percent higher than other non-farm employers in the state.
But in a nationwide pattern, many students and parents express distaste for the supposed working conditions in manufacturing, describing it as dingy, grimy work, even though that's not the case at many modern companies.
Plus, a Wall Street Journal article in May reported, "The U.S. education system isn't turning out enough people with the math and science skills needed to operate and repair sophisticated computer-controlled factory equipment, jobs that often pay $50,000 to $80,000 a year, plus benefits."
But in Nebraska, manufacturers, educators and economic development officials are coming up with good ideas to inform students and parents about manufacturing opportunities. The key initiative is Dream It, Do It, spearheaded by Tony Raimondo, chairman of the Columbus, Neb.-based Behlen Manufacturing Co. and a nationally respected leader in the manufacturing sector.
With its 80 mentors, 13 area directors and regional volunteer teams across the state, the Dream It, Do It initiative uses a host of activities to spread the word. The tools include tours of businesses for students and educators; internships; classroom visits; career fairs; job shadowing, plus social media.
Jim Vyhlidal, co-founder of an Omaha machine-tool company and a leader with Dream It, Do It, regularly works with high school students to explain the job opportunities.
In Hastings, Christensen says such approaches are making a difference. Building partnerships with high schools is key. One good idea promoted by the National Association of Manufacturers, he says, is the development of certificates for specific job types; that gives young people the details of what job skills they need for real-world manufacturing jobs.
Another component, Christensen says, is teaching students about "soft skills" that are vital in advanced manufacturing: safe work practices, quality control, learning skills and problem solving.
Up the road in Grand Island, Central Community College has expanded its welding program in a major way, and a consortium of groups boosted awareness of welding needs. Plus, an ambitious outreach program is informing students about a wide range of job opportunities.
Next year Grand Island will begin its C-Tech program, a freestanding education center at a renovated manufacturing plant. C-Tech is intended to provide students with hands-on experience in a wide array of manufacturing needs, says Cindy Johnson, president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce.
Robotics is a focus in several Nebraska communities. A group of Hastings businesses and educational organizations has come together to help students learn about robotics. In Sarpy and Cass Counties, teachers in 11 high schools have received educational tools to provide top-of-the-line robotics instruction.
Christensen sums things up by saying, "We want to keep these young people in Nebraska. So we're out there letting them know about the opportunities right here in their own backyard." Spreading that word will keep Nebraska's important manufacturing sector strong.
Juli Thelen
Public Relations Director
Nebraska Dream It. Do It. Initiative
www.dreamit-doit.com/nebraska
(402) 563-1753 cell
(402) 563-7268 office
juli.thelen@behlenmfg.com
Published Monday September 12, 2011
World-Herald editorial: Jobs in our own backyard
Job creation rightly tops the list of America's national priorities this year.
In Nebraska, it's encouraging to see people stepping forward in a big way to educate young people about important job opportunities in the state's manufacturing sector.
Manufacturers are keen on letting young people know about the opportunities for good reason: About one-fourth of the nation's manufacturing work force is 55 or older, and those impending retirements will hit the manufacturing sector hard.
"These people have many, many years of experience and skills, and the young people aren't entering those career paths in sufficient numbers to make a difference," said Kelly Christensen, an associate dean at Central Community College's campus in Hastings, one of Nebraska's manufacturing hubs.
This issue will be a focus of a state conference of Nebraska manufacturers to be held at Omaha's CenturyLink Center on Wednesday.
In 2009, the activity from Nebraska manufacturing enterprises — assembling industrial machinery, producing fabricated metals, fabricating auto parts, putting together lawn mowers — totaled some $9 billion. That was nearly 11 percent of the state's economic output.
Nebraska manufacturing companies employ more than 120,000 people, accounting for about 10 percent of the state's employment. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, manufacturing compensation on average is 34 percent higher than other non-farm employers in the state.
But in a nationwide pattern, many students and parents express distaste for the supposed working conditions in manufacturing, describing it as dingy, grimy work, even though that's not the case at many modern companies.
Plus, a Wall Street Journal article in May reported, "The U.S. education system isn't turning out enough people with the math and science skills needed to operate and repair sophisticated computer-controlled factory equipment, jobs that often pay $50,000 to $80,000 a year, plus benefits."
But in Nebraska, manufacturers, educators and economic development officials are coming up with good ideas to inform students and parents about manufacturing opportunities. The key initiative is Dream It, Do It, spearheaded by Tony Raimondo, chairman of the Columbus, Neb.-based Behlen Manufacturing Co. and a nationally respected leader in the manufacturing sector.
With its 80 mentors, 13 area directors and regional volunteer teams across the state, the Dream It, Do It initiative uses a host of activities to spread the word. The tools include tours of businesses for students and educators; internships; classroom visits; career fairs; job shadowing, plus social media.
Jim Vyhlidal, co-founder of an Omaha machine-tool company and a leader with Dream It, Do It, regularly works with high school students to explain the job opportunities.
In Hastings, Christensen says such approaches are making a difference. Building partnerships with high schools is key. One good idea promoted by the National Association of Manufacturers, he says, is the development of certificates for specific job types; that gives young people the details of what job skills they need for real-world manufacturing jobs.
Another component, Christensen says, is teaching students about "soft skills" that are vital in advanced manufacturing: safe work practices, quality control, learning skills and problem solving.
Up the road in Grand Island, Central Community College has expanded its welding program in a major way, and a consortium of groups boosted awareness of welding needs. Plus, an ambitious outreach program is informing students about a wide range of job opportunities.
Next year Grand Island will begin its C-Tech program, a freestanding education center at a renovated manufacturing plant. C-Tech is intended to provide students with hands-on experience in a wide array of manufacturing needs, says Cindy Johnson, president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce.
Robotics is a focus in several Nebraska communities. A group of Hastings businesses and educational organizations has come together to help students learn about robotics. In Sarpy and Cass Counties, teachers in 11 high schools have received educational tools to provide top-of-the-line robotics instruction.
Christensen sums things up by saying, "We want to keep these young people in Nebraska. So we're out there letting them know about the opportunities right here in their own backyard." Spreading that word will keep Nebraska's important manufacturing sector strong.
Juli Thelen
Public Relations Director
Nebraska Dream It. Do It. Initiative
www.dreamit-doit.com/nebraska
(402) 563-1753 cell
(402) 563-7268 office
juli.thelen@behlenmfg.com