Class Industrial Networks, who has a long history of tracking these trends. The newest survey confirms once again the most manufacturing jobs, provide adequate to very good wages and that all of the production occupations are in the greatest demand. Recruiting, training, and retraining workers is more complicated that it was a generation ago. In order to meet manufacturer's needs for skills workers, attitudes need to change. For the economic and social well-being of the region we've got to work together to spread the word about opportunities in manufacturing.
Manufacturing is very different than a year ago.
David Malone, chair of the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board echoed the strengths of the change. It isn't the dirty, noisy, even dangerous work that it was. There are more opportunities for skills improvement and advancement, including supervisory responsibilities. What we as industry decide to do now, what resources we fight to put into training and how we partner with the public sector, will be the deciding piece of the puzzle in this region remaining competitive in the global economy. Throughout 2001, leaders in the health, information technology, hospitality and tourism, and financial services industries will be hosting workforce Summits.