VCATS Events
VIRGINIA TAKES AIM AT SKILLED WORKER SHORTAGES BY LAUNCHING DREAM IT. DO IT.
Campaign Promotes Careers in Advanced Manufacturing
RICHMOND, VA, October 29, 2007 – A statewide coalition of business leaders, educators and others with an interest in the economic future of Virginia gathered in Williamsburg today for the launch of Dream It. Do It. Virginia, an innovative campaign to encourage people to explore and pursue the growing number of advanced manufacturing careers in Virginia.
"Thousands of high-tech manufacturing jobs are opening in Virginia, and they will require significant skills training and certification to maintain our industry's competitiveness," said Brett Vassey, President & CEO, Virginia Manufacturers Association. "Dream It. Do It. Virginia will help align education, workforce and economic growth strategies statewide so that more individuals can be aware of and participate in the great opportunities afforded by careers in advanced technology industries," said Vassey.
In a newly published study, 'Virginia's Skilled Trades Gap Analysis Report," the Virginia Manufacturers Association reports there will be an estimated 46,870 skilled trade jobs available in the State from 2007 through 2010, with nearly a quarter of these job openings driven by retirements. Manufacturing technicians are expected to experience the largest number of openings, accounting for 22,606 of the available jobs.
Co-sponsored by the Virginia Council on Advanced Technology Skills, the Virginia Manufacturers Association and the Virginia Biotechnology Association in partnership with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and The Manufacturing Institute, the campaign seeks to boost Virginia's economic competitiveness by attracting more people to advanced technology careers and providing them with related education and training opportunities.
"Today's manufacturing offers high-paying, challenging and interesting careers in technologically sophisticated environments," said Sheryl Bryan, Director of the Virginia Council on Advanced Technology Skills. "Folks in Virginia can have an exciting career with companies that are creating cutting-edge products that beat the global competition. Dream It. Do It. Virginia will help people understand the rapidly growing demands of the technical workplace," said Mark Herzog, Executive Director of VaBIO.
Developed by the NAM and its research and education arm, The Manufacturing Institute, Dream It. Do It. began in Kansas City in 2005 and has rapidly spread to Virginia, Nebraska, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Washington State, Arizona and Illinois with more regions in the pipeline. "Virginia is a role model for states that seek to improve their global competitiveness by creating a skilled workforce," said NAM President and CEO John Engler. "America can't compete without skilled workers. Eighty percent of NAM members are having difficulty finding qualified employees for today's advanced, high-tech workplace – and this problem is getting worse as the Baby Boom generation retires."
Across Virginia and all 50 states, the skilled worker shortage is reflected in the national 2005 Skills Gap Report commissioned by the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute:
- 90 percent of manufacturers 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.
"Dream It. Do It. helps people identify what they are passionate about and find fulfilling careers in advanced manufacturing, where the average annual compensation nationally is close to $70,000 – 20 percent higher than in the rest of the economy," said Phyllis Eisen, senior vice president of The Manufacturing Institute and the creator of Dream It. Do It. "Dream It. Do It. is inspiring individuals across the country to prepare for their dream job in high tech manufacturing. Today's launch in Virginia brings us one step closer to making Dream It. Do It. a national campaign to help America close the skills gap and thrive in the global marketplace," Eisen said at the launch event today.
For more information about the campaign, visit www.dreamit-doit.com/virginia.
|
