North Central Indiana provides means to close skills gap

Employers and educators from Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University Kokomo and area high schools gathered Thursday at IUK to discuss the value of industrial certifications in addressing the manufacturing sector’s “skills gap.” The group convened for an Employers/Educators Connection forum hosted by the North Central Indiana Economic Development Partnership.

Manufacturing accounts for a larger share of Indiana’s gross domestic product than any other state. In 2013, 30 percent of the Hoosier state’s GDP came from manufacturing, according to a 24/7 Wall Street Special Report published in 2014. With the state’s economy so dependent on manufacturing, it’s especially important to make sure Indiana industries have the skilled workers they need.

Neil Reddy, executive director of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, shared that six out of 10 open skilled production positions are unfilled due to a shortage of qualified workers – what’s known as the skills gap. Reddy commended regional stakeholders on their collaboration among secondary schools, higher education and employers to provide opportunities for people to obtain the skills manufacturing employers expect from workers.

“The hardest part of all this is to get the stakeholder community engaged,” Reddy said. “You’ve certainly got all the pieces you need and you’re well ahead of the game. You’ll not only maintain your current manufacturers, but you’ll attract new manufacturers.”

MSSC is a nonprofit based in Virginia that offers training and a certification system to provide production and material handling workers with the skills they need. Reddy noted offering clear pathways to obtaining industrial certifications benefits the individuals who pursue the credentials, employers and schools.

Ivy Tech’s Integrated Technology Education Program has been a vital link between secondary schools and area employers, and the college offers associate degrees and other certifications through the program. ITEP began embedding industrial credentials in high school advanced manufacturing courses last school year, and the offerings have further expanded this year.

With support from a federal grant, ITEP is building a mentoring network for students and teachers involved in the program. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Red Gold Inc., Patriot Porcelain, The Dilling Group, Carter Fuel and Jeff Kellam Construction have partnered in that grant.

“We’re working with all of the high schools so students can have a pathway to dual credit, work-based learning and certifications by the time they graduate from high school,” said Jan Bailey, manager of ITEP for Ivy Tech’s Kokomo region.

With high school students gaining hands-on work experience and earning industrial certifications by the time they graduate, they can then pursue additional certification, an associate degree, bachelor’s degree or enter the workforce.

Technical certificates and degrees are not exclusive to each other, noted Jim Tidd, a partner in the North Central Indiana Economic Development Partnership.

“We all know we have students or family members who already know they want to go to a four-year program. Then we have people who aren’t sure or who may want to go into the workplace first,” Tidd said, adding that promoting technical certifications can be a feeder system to higher education once people realize the value of earning additional credentials.

Thursday’s forum also featured students who are earning technical certifications through their career center programs and representatives from The Dilling Group, Haynes International Inc. and Snavely Machine, who spoke about the demands of their industries.