Manufacturing Caucus Co-Chairs Tom Reed (R-NY) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) Host Workforce Development Panel

Press Release

Focus on best practices and policies for developing a workforce for the future of manufacturing

Congressmen Tom Reed (R-NY) and Tim Ryan (D-OH), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan House Manufacturing Caucus, held a workforce development panel Thursday with presentations from individuals in both the manufacturing and education sectors on how the two can collaborate.

"Manufacturers are facing a very real problem of a skills gap in today's workforce," Reed said. "While we have 12 million Americans out of work, 3.6 million job openings remain unfilled -- largely due to a skills gap. As demand continues to grow for highly-skilled workers, it's increasingly important we bridge that gap to fill in-demand positions. The panel shed light on ways education and the manufacturing industry can partner to prepare students for jobs in manufacturing."

The Caucus invited Lynn Freid, Director of Workforce Development at Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) to Washington to participate on the panel.

"We are thrilled to have one of our community colleges represented at the event to highlight a very successful education-industry partnership," Reed said. "Finger Lakes Community College and GW Lisk's partnership for the Advanced Manufacturing Machining program serves to fill a workforce need. This program is a great example for other schools and manufacturers to follow."

FLCC and GW Lisk's Advanced Manufacturing Machining program is set to graduate students at a ceremony next week. All of the students graduating this year have received, or have already accepted, job offers.

The Caucus also heard from representatives from BASF Corporation, the Department of Education's Office for Vocational and Adult Education, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).

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