In an effort to help manufacturers attract and train skilled workers, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a framework identifying skills workers must possess to meet future needs.
"After decades of using incomplete and inconsistent standards for training the manufacturing workforce, advanced manufacturers came together to embrace a common framework of skills necessary to pursue a successful career," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco.
"In a global economy, American workers need strong academic, workplace and technical skills to maintain our innovative edge. The tools released today allow industry, educators, and government to match their investments to the modern needs of the advanced manufacturing workplace," DeRocco said.
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) convened a group to study the issues including the Manufacturing Institute, National Council for Advanced Manufacturing, National Association of Manufacturers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, National Institute for Metalworking Skills, Penn State University, Thomas Nelson Community College, Aviation High School in New York City, and others. The group identified the common elements that apply across manufacturing sectors including working with spreadsheets, interpretation of CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawings, and database navigation and reporting.
Also, the Department of Labor will shortly announce a competition for funding under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative for the advanced manufacturing industry. The initiative facilitates partnerships among business, education and the workforce investment system to develop solutions to the challenges facing high growth industries.
For further information visit www.doleta.gov/BRG/JobTrainInitiative/.
