Q&A talks to Al Young, vice president of field service and installation operations, building solutions, North America, at electronics and HVAC equipment maker Johnson Controls and Scott Shaw, the president and CEO of trade school Lincoln Tech, about their new workforce-development partnership.
It’s been reported that more than 2 million technical roles (including electricians and HVAC specialists) could go unfilled in coming years due to a lack of skilled workers. As a result, Lincoln Tech and Johnson Controls have just launched a new workforce-development partnership, including at three of the school’s campuses in Connecticut (East Windsor, New Britain and Shelton). What does the partnership entail?
Young: The partnership entails Johnson Controls and Lincoln Tech working together to provide curriculum and hands-on training for HVAC, electrical, security and fire programs. We are also working closely together to recruit students to Johnson Controls upon graduation, where they can immediately put their training to work.
Johnson Controls also provides equipment in its sponsored classrooms at 10 Lincoln Tech campuses across the country, including the three classrooms in Connecticut, so students are trained on the very equipment they would utilize on the job.
Johnson Controls is headquartered in Milwaukee. Why did the company want to extend its Lincoln Tech partnership in Connecticut schools as well?
Young: Our company has branch locations all over the country serving customers in over 120 markets. This partnership helps by ensuring we have a technical workforce that will be equipped to meet our customer’s needs wherever they are located. This is especially critical in light of the existing skills gap our country is facing.
The campuses here were equipped with the capabilities to include equipment and curriculum for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and electrical and electronic systems technology (EEST), as well as security and fire programming.
How do companies in technical fields, including manufacturers, encourage more workers or future workers to join the industry?
Young: It’s important to build awareness about alternatives to the four-year degree and providing access to a clear path from education to employment and making that path accessible for everyone is the first step. Ensuring that prospective employees know about the potential for growth in a technical career is also important.
Another exciting tool to encourage interest in technical fields are the new and innovative technologies being introduced within the industry.
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, analytics and cloud capabilities are coming to the field, from false alarm detection to smart chillers to video analytics for security systems.
What other industry partnerships does Lincoln Tech have?
Shaw: Lincoln Tech has long partnered with industry for a variety of support services including job placement, student scholarships and tuition-reimbursement programs. In addition, we have contracted with a large number of companies to provide custom training programs that prepare graduates with the skills specific to a company or industry such as BMW, Hussmann Corpo., Bridgestone, Chrysler, Volkswagen, Audi, Mazda, the Food Processing Suppliers Association and, of course, Johnson Controls.
How important are industry partnerships to the school’s overall strategy and mission? What is the job placement rate of Lincoln Tech graduates?
Shaw: Lincoln exceeded an 80 percent overall, company-wide placement rate in 2018. As an organization we see our partnership with industry as a critical and key factor in our growth strategy. Industry training programs not only improve our placement rates and the starting salaries of our graduates, but also validate the quality of the education provided at our campuses. Industry professionals serve on campus advisory boards and contribute to curriculum development as well.
What types of technical companies are doing the most hiring right now?
Shaw: All companies that rely on skilled technicians to install, repair or maintain their equipment are looking for new talent. The skills gap has grown exponentially over the last several years especially with the huge number of Baby Boomers retiring annually.
Young: At Johnson Controls we have more than 17,000 skilled technical workers across the U.S. and Canada, and hire thousands more each year, from fire safety technicians to installers to managers.
