New Strategies – To Include Registered Apprenticeships – Are Needed To Fill Skills Gaps
Randy Wolken, President & CEO
MACNY members continue to tell me how increasingly difficult it is to hire the talent they need, with a particular worry about the ability to find skilled workers. MACNY is committed to helping members through this by providing innovative solutions to this challenge. Simultaneously, we’re seeing companies responding to their hiring challenges by rethinking the experience and skills requirements in place, and instead focusing on on-the-job training and upskilling opportunities that give team members the skills they need to excel.
I’ve observed a trend in which leaders have refocused what their looking for when hiring; they want employees who can work well with others and who are engaged in their job—they can train for many of the other skills required. I expect this trend will only continue. The World Economic Forum surveyed companies and reported that investing in learning and on-the-job training, along with process automation, are the most common workforce strategies that will be adopted by businesses in the next five years to achieve organizational goals. With the average half-life of skills now less than five years—organizations need new approaches to re-skilling and up-skilling their workforce, including Registered Apprenticeships.
Leaders will need to take an active role in preparing their organizations for the future workforce. For many jobs in manufacturing, the focus will be even more on on-the-job skills development; less on degrees or specific experience. Colleges and high schools will need to focus more on work-readiness skills and identifying students who may excel in a skilled trade or manufacturing career path. We actively prepare students for manufacturing and technology careers through our Partners in Education & Business (PEB) programs. As a result, young people are discovering opportunities to go right to work through earn-while-you-learn Registered Apprenticeship Programs, which includes employer-paid training and education. MACNY is also preparing individuals for careers in manufacturing through pre-apprenticeship programs, such as Real Life RosiesTM, that provide participants with foundational and transferrable skills required for careers in advanced manufacturing, along with opportunities to interview for open positions with New York manufacturers.
Registered Apprenticeships are a vital strategy to fill skills gaps in our member companies. To this end, MACNY and its partners across the state administer programs for over 1,000 apprentices. And, just last week, we received word of receiving $6 million to expand significantly our efforts. More than 800 workers will get the training they need for careers with advanced manufacturers thanks to this historic federal investment. MACNY will use the money to build upon its already successful Registered Apprenticeship Program.
It’s an exciting time to be in manufacturing. However, with the growth in manufacturing jobs, our members will need to act decisively to secure the talent necessary to be successful. MACNY is here to help you do that. If you want to start a Registered Apprenticeship Program, now is the best time. Please get in touch with Amy Stage at [email protected] to learn more.