Northeast Ohio launches 'Dream it. Do it." campaign against worker shortage

Manufacturing News, Source : The Manufacturer US
Published : 12 Jan 2007 14:53

WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 10, 2007 – Business leaders, educators and others with an interest in the economic future of Northeast Ohio were at the launch today of Dream It. Do It., a multi-regional careers and economic development campaign aimed at attracting young people to manufacturing careers and expanding their educational and training opportunities.

Sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and its research and education arm, The Manufacturing Institute, Dream It. Do It. began in 2005 as a pilot program in Kansas City, where it has produced encouraging results. The campaign recently launched in Nebraska and Southwest Virginia and will roll out in several other regions across the country this year. The Northeast Ohio campaign is being managed by the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) and comprises a 16-county region that includes the cities of North Canton, Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Ashland, Mentor, Ashtabula and Elyria.

“Northeast Ohio is a role model for regions seeking to improve their global competitiveness,” said NAM President and CEO John Engler. “America can’t compete without skilled workers. Eighty percent of NAM members are having trouble finding qualified employees for today’s high-tech workplace – and this problem is getting worse as the Baby Boom generation retires.”

Nationally, the skilled worker shortage is reflected in a 2005 Skills Gap Report commissioned by the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute:

· 90 percent reported a moderate to severe shortage of qualified skilled production employees such as machinists, operators, craft workers, distributors, technicians;

· 83 percent reported shortages are currently impacting their ability to serve customers.

“Hundreds of manufacturing jobs are currently available in Northeast Ohio, and they need to be filled with a workforce that is regionally trained,” said James W. Griffith, president and CEO of The Timken Company and chairman of MAGNET. “Filling those jobs with skilled individuals will have a positive impact on the health of our economy and on economic development in the region,” he said at today’s launch in North Canton, Ohio.

Dream It. Do It. is designed to reverse the trend of a shrinking skilled workforce. There are more than 12,000 manufacturing companies in Northeast Ohio, and they report a need for more CNC operators, engineers, technicians, machinists and general production workers.

“Dream It. Do It. excites young people about careers in modern manufacturing and helps them prepare for the growing technical demands of the workplace,” said Jerry Jasinowski, president of The Manufacturing Institute at today’s launch in North Canton. “Jim Griffith and The Timken Company have shown great vision in bringing Dream It. Do It. to Northeast Ohio. “Jim is showing true leadership in engaging the region’s manufacturing community and other important stakeholders in this innovative economic development and careers campaign,” he said.

“Too many young people have an outdated view of manufacturing and don’t consider it to be an interesting or rewarding career. Dream It. Do It. puts a real and exciting new face on today’s cutting edge manufacturing for 16-26 year olds, their parents and educators. We’ve seen real success with our Kansas City pilot program, where enrollment in manufacturing-related courses at the local technical school has increased by 35 percent, and polls show a significant positive change in attitudes about manufacturing careers,” Jasinowski said.

“Dream It. Do It. is the unique and home-grown initiative of The Manufacturing Institute. Today’s launch in Northeast Ohio brings us one step closer to making Dream It. Do It. a national campaign that will persuade more young people across the country to prepare for and pursue a career in manufacturing,” Engler concluded.

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