Q&A talks with Judith K. Resnick, executive director of CBIA’s Education Foundation, about next generation careers in technology.
Q: Lean and Green: Next Generation Careers in Technology was a day of workshops and exhibits aimed at increasing young people’s awareness of opportunities in manufacturing and green technologies. What were some of the workshops about?
A: Included in the 14 workshops were sessions illustrating the principles and impact of lean manufacturing, fuel cell technology, the creation of sustainable products, building “green,” the basics of laser technology, geothermal technology, and sustainable workplace efficiencies. The workshops led by industry experts from Connecticut companies including Xerox, Kaman, UTC Power, and Trumpf, were designed to interest and motivate students to pursue careers in manufacturing and green technology.
Q: What jobs specifically are going to be available in the green manufacturing process? What skills and education are going to be needed?
A: Unfortunately there isn’t a universally accepted definition of ”green job.” The Connecticut Department of Labor has suggested the following: “… green jobs make things or provide services that conserve natural resources (especially energy) and benefit the environment, falling into the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution/waste reduction, recycling, natural resource conservation, and environmental compliance. Green job workers make production processes more efficient, reduce waste, and help make them more environmentally friendly.” Green manufacturing jobs will still require that individuals are knowledgeable in engineering, technology, mathematics, and science but they must also understand the science and concepts underpinning energy, waste, conservation, etc. Additional education in sustainable manufacturing, energy management and efficiency, green building and retrofitting, lean manufacturing, and renewable energy, among others, will become essential for individuals to participate in the new economy.
Q: What impact does this have on future jobs growth? Does Connecticut lose young people without these kinds of jobs?
A: Despite the popular misperception, manufacturing is alive and well in 4,937 companies throughout Connecticut. Connecticut’s manufacturing output makes up 13.4 percent of our regional economy. At a recent CBIA Economic Summit, David Hess, president of Pratt & Whitney talked of the hundreds of new R&D engineers being hired to create tomorrow’s P&W jet engines. Today, one in three P&W employees is an engineer. P&W also counts over 600 manufacturers in their Connecticut supply chain who will help manufacture the components for the engines of tomorrow. These jobs pay handsomely at all levels of education ranging from community college through university graduate school.
Connecticut boasts a thriving high-tech manufacturing sector and will continue to do so only if there is an adequate supply of highly skilled workers. Without a skilled workforce, we are in danger of losing key manufacturers to other states and countries where skilled employees are readily available. Unfortunately, many of our best and brightest leave the state because they don’t perceive that there are good jobs here. We need to show them the high-skill, high-wage opportunities in Connecticut’s manufacturing sector as well as the education and training programs that will prepare them for those opportunities.
Q: Why has Connecticut seemingly been caught unaware of the impending shortage of skilled workers, especially with what seems like high unemployment?
A: On the contrary, Connecticut has been well aware of the impending shortage of skilled workers. However, efforts to combat the shortage have been compromised by the growing educational achievement gap, the seeming lack of interest of young people in careers in manufacturing, and the recession. There are excellent education and training programs in place at the community colleges and in Connecticut’s engineering schools. But as the manufacturing sector emerges from the recession, the need for skilled workers may outstrip the number of interested young people as well as the current education system’s capacity to produce enough skilled workers.
Retraining unemployed workers for manufacturing jobs is one possible solution. However, it may require lengthy training and education to upgrade the skills of individuals that don’t have a technical and/or scientific background – time that industry may not be able to spare if it is to meet its more immediate employment needs.
Q: How quickly can the employment needs be met in these fields? What is the learning curve?
A: The industry requires individuals with a strong background in science, technology and mathematics. People with this background and an interest in manufacturing can enter a community college precision machining program for the technical training that rounds out their skill sets. Programs ranging from six to 18 months (some with paid internship opportunities) prepare people for entry-level technical manufacturing jobs. There are also excellent employment opportunities for two-year A.S. engineering technicians as well as four-year (and beyond) engineering B.S. degree programs. In addition, for people with that background, shorter-term training opportunities exist in such areas as lean/green manufacturing, sustainable manufacturing, and alternative energy and energy management. Individuals are often able to continue their education while working, and most manufacturers have tuition assistance programs to help their employees learn while they earn.
Q: What types of resources are available to educators and students who want to learn more?
A: There is a wealth of manufacturing career information available for educators and students, starting with CBIA’s Education Foundation. Our foundation is dedicated to building public- private partnerships that ensure Connecticut companies have access to a skilled workforce and that Connecticut’s citizens have access to key information about careers and related employment opportunities. See the foundation website http://www.cbia.com/edf/Manufacturing_Workforce.htm.
Please also see:
The Community College System Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing http://www.nextgenmfg.org;
The Aerospace Components Manufacturers, http://www.aerospacecomponents.org/page1167.html;
And the CT Department of Economic and Community Development http://www.ct.gov/ecd/cwp/view.asp?a=3681&Q=431260&PM=1
