Closing the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Gap

Evidence exists that a thriving manufacturing sector increases the number of stable, well-paying jobs leading to the growth of the US economy. The manufacturing industry is the fifth largest employer in Massachusetts and benefits from the state's diversified economy, according to a recent Jobs For the Future (JFF) report. At the same time, several states in the US, including Massachusetts, are consistently reporting a skills gap that results in a shortage of a skilled workforce leading to thousands of unfilled positions in this sector. This paper describes an innovative approach that prepares college graduates to launch a second career in the growing advanced manufacturing sector while bringing together various stakeholders including higher education institutions, workforce investment boards and industry. The paper describes the range of services provided to students in the new manufacturing certificate programs at a community college in Massachusetts and opportunities that exist for additional collaboration.