More than half of teenagers are open to alternatives to a traditional college degree to prepare them for a career.
According to a 2021 survey by ECMC Group, just 48 percent of high school students are considering a four-year degree. That number is down from 71 percent from May 2020.
More than half of those surveyed feel they can achieve success in three years or fewer of education, including through apprenticeships.
Among the “quicker pathways to careers” they view as most appealing: trade skills and on-the-job training.
What can that mean for manufacturing?
A new phase in manufacturing
Alex Hertzer, MVMC assistant director, said the timing of the survey’s findings is great news for Mahoning Valley manufacturers. To capitalize on the opportunity, he said we must acknowledge and defeat the still-lingering stigmas of industry along with a misconception of how to approach growing the talent pipeline.
“We need to promote to job seekers that we’re in a new era in manufacturing,” Hertzer said.
Hunter Wess began his career in manufacturing through WorkAdvance, a program teaching him the basics of the industry.
That new era includes more technology, automation, safety, clean and bright facilities, and real career paths.
It’s finding a way to relate the new industry shifts to Gen Z and future generations, Hertzer said.
“As a high school senior, some information might come from influencers.”
Using local influencers is a way to show teens “manufacturing is enticing. There are benefits, good pay and the biggest thing right now: culture.”
Job seekers want to have that life-work balance, Hertzer said.
It’s important that job seekers see a logo or hear a manufacturing company name and immediately associate it with a positive culture, he added.
Hertzer said to reach Gen Z to dispel old ideas about manufacturing, the approach of explaining is key.
“It’s about rebranding manufacturing as an opportunity. It’s not just an option.”
Hertzer said collectively we need to convey a consistently positive message about today’s manufacturing careers.
“Let people know yes, you’re going to work hard and sweat, but you’re going to feel you’re part of a family, you’ll have great benefits, your supervisors are there to help you. You’ll have a career path and will grow,” Hertzer said.
Learning while earning
Providing opportunities for Gen Z to start making money right as they graduate can be crucial, Hertzer said.
Apprenticeships give people a feel for what work needs to be done, and it allows apprentices to mesh with seasoned employees while learning on-the-job.
In the survey, 65 percent said they felt skills should be learned in a lab setting or somewhere hands-on. Another 53 percent would opt to gain skills in apprenticeship-type experiences.
Locally that can be done through programs like WorkAdvance and registered pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.
Within the first half hour of a five-hour job fair, Vallourec was scheduling candidates for job interviews for the next day.
“We had openings for condensed-session interviews, and those spots were filled almost immediately,” said Elizabeth Aukerman, Vallourec talent acquisition specialist.
Vallourec was among 70 entities from the Mahoning Valley, including MVMC members, to participate in the Youngstown Works inaugural hiring event.
Dave Macek, human resources business partner at Vallourec, talks with two job seekers during a hiring event in Youngstown.
Finding employees
Youngstown Works is a consortium of employers and educational partners spearheaded by MyPath Mahoning Valley.
More than 200 job seekers attended. Some interviewed on the spot and others started the application process.
Bringing employers and schools together for the hiring event is one approach when finding employees, said Julie Michael Smith, MVMC project manager.
“Reaching job seekers has been diverse, through hiring events, social media and referrals,” she said.
Job seekers can also talk with companies one-on-one about what to expect at facilities when they connect at job fairs.
For manufacturing, many people think they have a sense of what the industry is, “an outdated misconception” that every facility is dark, loud and filled with back-breaking work.
“It’s completely changed” with emerging technology and updating facilities coming into play, Smith said.
Rethinking the workplace
Peoples’ expectations about work have changed, too.
There has been “lots of turnover” over the last couple of years, as people have reevaluated what they’ve been doing at the workplace.
“Now, people are looking to reskill” and even train for something new, Smith said.
Nichole Noday, a human resources generalist with Ultium Cells, LLC, left, talks with East High School juniors Carlos Gonzalez, Tyreek West and Eddie Pierce.
To help job seekers connect with careers in manufacturing, technology and health care, MVMC serves as operations manager for the Ohio To Work Mahoning Valley program, which runs through 2022.
“Ohio To Work is an opportunity to focus on showing job seekers what manufacturing is today,” Smith said.
For more information on Ohio To Work hiring events, contact Smith at julie@mahoningvalleymfg.com.
Pennex Aluminum is the latest MVMC member to be featured in a Business Journal Brain Gain Navigators segment. The live Q&A with area high school students took place May 5.
Pennex Aluminum of Leetonia was featured May 5, 2021 in a Brain Gain Navigators segment. Jera Daye, recruiting specialist, provided a detailed look at the various career path options available.
Click here for a replay of the entire segment and a quick 2-minute video from Pennex’s Leetonia, Ohio operations.
